Brevard County

Florida · FL

#36 in Florida
62.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Brevard County, Florida

Brevard Exceeds National Baseline

Brevard County's composite score of 67.2 surpasses the national median of 50.0, positioning it in the 34th percentile nationally. The county offers above-average livability by national standards.

Slightly Below State Average

Brevard's 67.2 score falls short of Florida's 69.4 average by 2.2 points, placing it just below the state midpoint. The county remains competitive but trails several neighboring peers.

Income Leadership in the Group

Brevard boasts the highest median household income at $75,817, with an income score of 32.9 leading this county group. A tax score of 82.5 and effective rate of 0.703% provide solid fiscal advantages.

Housing Costs Limit Affordability

The cost score of 64.2 reflects median rent of $1,456 and median home values of $304,400, the second-highest in this group. Missing data on schools, safety, health, and environmental factors prevents fuller assessment.

Best for Affluent, Career-Focused Families

Brevard suits higher-earning households with professional careers who can absorb housing costs for strong income and tax advantages. The county rewards earning power but requires financial capacity to manage property expenses.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax82.5Cost64.2SafetyComing SoonHealth70.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome32.9Risk1.6WaterComing Soon
🏛82.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠64.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼32.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
70.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
1.6
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Brevard County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Brevard County

via TaxByCounty

Brevard taxes slightly below average

Brevard's effective tax rate of 0.703% sits just below the national median of 0.73%, placing it near the 45th percentile nationally. The median property tax of $2,139 runs $551 below the national median, despite higher home values of $304,400 versus $281,900 nationwide.

Brevard aligns with Florida average

Brevard's 0.703% effective rate nearly matches Florida's state average of 0.731%, making it a moderate-tax county by state standards. The median property tax of $2,139 exceeds the state average of $1,885 by $254 annually.

Brevard sits in the middle ground

Brevard's 0.703% rate falls between lower-tax Bay County (0.597%) and higher-tax Alachua (0.983%). For a major metropolitan county, Brevard offers relatively balanced tax treatment.

Your annual tax bill in Brevard

On a median home value of $304,400, Brevard homeowners pay approximately $2,139 in annual property taxes. With mortgage-related expenses, the full bill reaches roughly $2,290 per year.

Reassessment appeals available now

Brevard homeowners with recently purchased homes or properties may be overassessed from volatile market values. A free informal appeal to the Property Appraiser could reveal substantial tax savings.

Cost of Living in Brevard County

via CostByCounty

Brevard balances strong income with high rents

Brevard County renters spend 23.0% of income on housing—just below the national threshold—thanks to a median income of $75,817, above the U.S. average. At $1,456 monthly, rents are steep, but household earnings cushion the burden.

Premium coastal county with manageable burden

Brevard's 23.0% rent-to-income ratio sits slightly below Florida's 22.5% average, a rare win for a high-rent county. The Space Coast's $1,456 median rent ranks third-highest statewide, yet strong local incomes keep affordability reasonable.

Costlier than inland peers, worth the trade

Brevard's $1,456 rent exceeds Alachua ($1,255), Charlotte ($1,289), and most rural counties, rivaled only by Broward ($1,804). But Brevard's median income of $75,817 is among Florida's strongest, making the math work better than raw rent suggests.

Homeownership offers modest savings

Brevard renters and homeowners face similar burdens—23.0% and 18.1% respectively—but the $304,400 median home value is steep. Strong local incomes from aerospace and tech jobs make ownership achievable for higher earners, though it requires substantial down payments.

High-income professionals' space coast choice

Brevard County suits higher earners seeking coastal lifestyle without the Broward price shock—incomes here are among Florida's best. If you're tech or aerospace-employed with household income above $75,000, Brevard's 23% housing burden is quite manageable.

Income & Jobs in Brevard County

via IncomeByCounty

Brevard exceeds national income standard

Brevard County's median household income of $75,817 surpasses the national median of $74,755 by $1,062, placing it solidly in the upper-middle tier nationally. Driven by aerospace, defense, and high-tech employment, Brevard's economy consistently delivers above-average wages.

Among Florida's highest-earning counties

Brevard's $75,817 median household income significantly exceeds Florida's state average of $65,468, outpacing the state by $10,349. This positions Brevard in the top 10% of Florida counties, reflecting strength in aerospace and technology sectors concentrated around Kennedy Space Center and Melbourne.

Regional income champion

Brevard County ($75,817) clearly leads its Central Florida neighbors, with Bay County ($70,188) and Charlotte County ($66,154) trailing significantly. Its per capita income of $42,738 is the highest among regional peers, underscoring a robust professional workforce.

Housing costs rise with affluence

Brevard's rent-to-income ratio of 23.0% sits comfortably in the sustainable range despite median home values of $304,400. The county's strong incomes support higher housing costs, and most households maintain healthy financial margins after housing expenses.

Maximize earnings with tech careers

Brevard's aerospace and technology sectors offer six-figure earning potential for skilled professionals in engineering, software development, and program management. Residents should invest aggressively in professional certifications, stock portfolios, and retirement accounts to convert high incomes into lasting wealth.

Health in Brevard County

via HealthByCounty

Brevard meets the nation's health standard

At 75.8 years, Brevard County residents live right at the U.S. average of 76.1 years, reflecting solid overall health parity with the country. The 15% poor/fair health rate—nearly 6 points below the national average—shows that Brevard residents enjoy better self-reported health than most Americans.

Brevard matches Florida's best

At 75.8 years, Brevard's life expectancy equals the Florida state average exactly, placing the county squarely in the middle of the state's health performance. The 15% poor/fair health rate ranks among Florida's best, demonstrating effective health management across the population.

A reliable health performer

Brevard's 75.8-year life expectancy outpaces Baker, Bradford, and Bay counties by 1-2 years, while its 15% poor/fair health rate is the lowest in this comparison group. With 72 primary care providers per 100,000 and 200 mental health providers per 100,000, Brevard offers solid if not exceptional access to both routine and behavioral care.

Solid coverage, steady access

At 11.2% uninsured, Brevard performs better than the state average of 14.4%, ensuring most residents can access care without cost barriers. The 72 primary care providers per 100,000 mean reasonable availability for routine visits, though wait times can extend during seasonal population swings in this retirement-heavy county.

Keep Brevard's edge with coverage

While 11.2% uninsured is below state average, that still means thousands lack protection against medical debt and delayed diagnoses. Visit healthcare.gov to explore marketplace and Medicaid options—staying covered ensures you benefit from Brevard's solid healthcare infrastructure when you need it most.

Disaster Risk in Brevard County

via RiskByCounty

Brevard faces severe, broad-spectrum risk

Brevard County's composite risk score of 98.41 ranks in the "Relatively High" category, placing it among America's highest-risk counties. This Space Coast location faces extreme exposure to hurricanes, flooding, and wildfire simultaneously.

Second-riskiest county in Florida

Brevard's 98.41 score exceeds Florida's 75.74 average by a dramatic margin, ranking it second only to Broward County (99.46). The county's long Atlantic coastline and dense urban population concentrate natural disaster exposure at exceptional levels.

Most extreme risk in its region

Brevard County (98.41) dwarfs the risk profiles of inland neighbors like Volusia (scores unavailable) and significantly exceeds most surrounding counties. Only its neighbor Broward approaches Brevard's extreme vulnerability to multiple hazard types.

Hurricanes lead, followed by wildfire and tornado

Hurricane risk peaks at 99.71—among the nation's highest—while wildfire (97.17) and tornado risk (95.29) round out a triple threat. Brevard residents face compounded exposure to all major wind and fire hazards across the calendar year.

Multilayered insurance is not optional

Brevard County residents must obtain homeowners insurance with maximum hurricane wind coverage and separate flood insurance—both are critical. Consider reinforcing your home's roof, garage doors, and windows, and maintain evacuation plans for hurricane season (June–November).

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.