Unemployment in Taylor County, Florida, is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties
In Taylor County, 8.7% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 87% of U.S. counties.
What drives Taylor County's score
In Taylor County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 94.3. Income and the safety net comes next, at 83.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Taylor County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Taylor County does better than most counties on one measure: renters paying half their income or more in rent (10.0%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 94.3 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year8.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202699th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working29.9% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
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- 83.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line19.9% · 202487th percentile
- Children below the poverty line27.8% · 202487th percentile
- People with a disability20.2% · 2020 to 202481st percentile
- People without health insurance11.2% · 2020 to 202474th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$53,844 · 202484th percentile
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- 76.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.9% · August 202583rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.2% · August 202564th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score50.9% · second quarter of 202682nd percentile
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- 75.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector36.5% · August 202588th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people157.5 · 202562nd percentile
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- 34.0 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent10.0% · 2020 to 202412th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.2% · fiscal year 202755th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Taylor County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Taylor County, 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Taylor County
Florida
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Taylor County rose most in two steps: 17.9% in 1989 to 23.4% in 1994; 23.7% in 2004 to 29.2% in 2009.
In Taylor County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 40.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in only a little more than benefit checks
In Taylor County, Florida, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 40.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Taylor County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 13.2% in 2010 to 17.4% in 2011.
The share of households in Taylor County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 11.0% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Taylor County, Florida.
How Taylor County has changed
Taylor County's population had its largest rise, from 20,093 in 2004 to 22,482 in 2009.
Taylor County's population rose by more than half from 1969 to 2024, reaching 21,843
High on the chart: 22,679 in 2014. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Taylor County, Florida.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Taylor County fell 17% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its lowest on the chart, with most of the change between 2020 and 2025
High on the chart: 7,004 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Taylor County, Florida.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 12.2% | 2025 7.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 17.7% | 2024 19.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,775 | 2024 $53,844 |
The table uses 7.3% for 2025; the score uses 8.7% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Taylor County's history
1856
Taylor County was created on December 23, 1856, from Madison County, the same day Lafayette County was split off from Madison County. Wikipedia
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 22,570. The 2020 Census counted 21,796, 97% of the peak. Census Bureau
2021
A flood in August 2021 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1993
39 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Taylor County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Taylor County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Taylor County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Taylor County ranks 2nd of the five; Dixie County is highest, at 42.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County, FL | 92 | 19.6% | 36.6% |
| Dixie County, FL | 91 | 22.1% | 42.3% |
| Lafayette County, FL | 90 | 19.6% | 37.4% |
| Taylor County, FL | 87 | 19.9% | 40.3% |
| Jefferson County, FL | 74 | 15.9% | 26.5% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Taylor County the poorest county in Florida?
No, Taylor County's poverty rate was 19.9% in 2024, 9th highest of 67 in Florida (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Hamilton County, at 25.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Taylor County ranks 20th of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Taylor County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Three Rivers Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Taylor County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Taylor County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.