countyscore

Best Counties for Families in Florida 2026

67 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in Florida

1Lafayette County
62.8
2Wakulla County
55.5
3Sumter County
53.5
4Gilchrist County
61.1
5Bradford County
60.1

All 67 Family-Ranked Counties in Florida

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Lafayette County, FL6762.8
2Wakulla County, FL6355.5
3Sumter County, FL6053.5
4Gilchrist County, FL6061.1
5Bradford County, FL5960.1
6Gulf County, FL5754.7
7Okaloosa County, FL5752.3
8Glades County, FL5754.1
9Suwannee County, FL5756.2
10Franklin County, FL5755
11St. Johns County, FL5750.9
12Liberty County, FL5553.4
13Collier County, FL5545.7
14Walton County, FL5552.6
15Calhoun County, FL5462.1
16Monroe County, FL5346.2
17Jefferson County, FL5357
18Union County, FL5257.2
19Lake County, FL5246
20Madison County, FL5250.3
21Taylor County, FL5152.9
22Nassau County, FL5148.6
23Broward County, FL5141.8
24Manatee County, FL5145.3
25Escambia County, FL5048.9
26Clay County, FL5044
27Charlotte County, FL4944.5
28Sarasota County, FL4944
29Santa Rosa County, FL4947.9
30Flagler County, FL4945.5
31Washington County, FL4853.5
32Indian River County, FL4845
33Jackson County, FL4853.8
34Highlands County, FL4748.5
35Palm Beach County, FL4637.5
36Martin County, FL4641.6
37Dixie County, FL4551
38Columbia County, FL4544.2
39Seminole County, FL4541.8
40Holmes County, FL4351.3
41Pasco County, FL4342.3
42St. Lucie County, FL4336.6
43Brevard County, FL4241.3
44Gadsden County, FL4151.7
45Levy County, FL4047.6
46Polk County, FL4038
47Hillsborough County, FL3935.8
48Baker County, FL3945.7
49Hernando County, FL3738.1
50Pinellas County, FL3736.2
51Lee County, FL3736.4
52Bay County, FL3636.9
53Putnam County, FL3537.5
54Citrus County, FL3443.2
55Miami-Dade County, FL3430.4
56Hardee County, FL3434.6
57Hendry County, FL3334.9
58Osceola County, FL3331.8
59Orange County, FL3332
60Leon County, FL3234.4
61Hamilton County, FL3243.3
62Marion County, FL3235.4
63Volusia County, FL3134.2
64Duval County, FL3030.3
65Alachua County, FL2732.1
66Okeechobee County, FL2431.6
67DeSoto County, FL2431.5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in Florida?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Lafayette County ranks as the top family county in Florida with a family score of 67.

How many counties in Florida are ranked for families?

We rank 67 counties in Florida for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse Florida Counties For

RetirementRemote WorkersBest Overall

Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.