CountyScore

Okeechobee County

Florida · FL

#32 in Florida
63.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Okeechobee County, Florida

Okeechobee surpasses U.S. median by 45%

Okeechobee County's composite score of 72.6 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, achieving top-tier national livability standing. This impressive performance is driven primarily by exceptional housing affordability and low taxes.

Top performer in Florida rankings

Okeechobee's score of 72.6 exceeds Florida's 69.4 state average, ranking it among Florida's strongest-performing counties. The county stands out as a livability leader within the state's competitive landscape.

Most affordable housing in this cohort

Okeechobee excels with a cost score of 79.9—the highest in this eight-county group—featuring median home values of just $179,000 and rent at $974/month. The tax score of 81.1 with an effective rate of 0.754% further enhances affordability.

Income significantly below state median

Okeechobee's income score of 17.5 is the weakest among these counties, with median household income at only $52,288, reflecting limited employment diversity. Data on schools, health, safety, and climate remain unavailable.

Perfect for retirees and budget builders

Okeechobee County suits retirees living on fixed incomes and working families prioritizing maximum affordability and tax savings over career growth. It's ideal for those seeking rural authenticity and low cost of living, less suitable for career advancement seekers.

Score breakdown

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

Tax81.1Cost79.9SafetyComing SoonHealth53SchoolsComing SoonIncome17.5Risk19.7WaterComing Soon
🏛81.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠79.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼17.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤53
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡19.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Okeechobee County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

New Castle County
Delaware
63.3
Median income: $89,901
Troup County
Georgia
63.3
Median income: $54,905
Sumner County
Kansas
63.3
Median income: $60,348
Otsego County
New York
63.3
Median income: $67,086
Mahoning County
Ohio
63.3
Median income: $55,576

Deep Dives

Okeechobee County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Okeechobee County

via TaxByCounty

Okeechobee taxes remain well below national

Okeechobee County's effective tax rate of 0.754% sits just below the national average, but its median property tax of $1,349 is 50% lower than the national median of $2,690. This favorable comparison reflects the county's lower home values rather than an unusually low tax rate.

Okeechobee ranks slightly above state average

Okeechobee County's 0.754% effective rate sits just slightly above Florida's state average of 0.731%, placing it near the middle of the state's 67 counties. The county's median tax of $1,349 is the lowest among the counties reviewed here, driven by the lowest median home values at $179,000.

Okeechobee the most affordable in region

Okeechobee County's 0.754% rate closely resembles Marion County (0.751%) to the north, but its substantially lower home values make it the most affordable county in central Florida by total tax burden. The median annual tax bill of $1,349 is less than half what homeowners pay in higher-value nearby counties.

What Okeechobee homeowners actually pay

A homeowner with Okeechobee's median home value of $179,000 pays approximately $1,349 in annual property taxes at the county's 0.754% effective rate. With a mortgage, that bill rises to about $1,599 when including escrow and related costs.

Small assessments still worth reviewing

Even with modest property values, Okeechobee homeowners should verify their assessments match fair market value to avoid paying unnecessary taxes. The county property appraiser offers a free appeal process that could result in modest but meaningful annual savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Okeechobee County

via CostByCounty

Okeechobee offers Florida's lowest absolute rents

Okeechobee County renters pay a median of just $974 monthly—among the lowest in Florida—and spend 22.4% of their income on housing. However, the median household income of $52,288 falls roughly $22,500 below the national median, reflecting the county's rural character and limited earning opportunities.

Okeechobee ranks at Florida's affordability ceiling

With a rent-to-income ratio of 22.4%, Okeechobee sits at the state average of 22.5%, but this masks a critical reality: the county's median household income of $52,288 is among Florida's lowest. The cheap rents reflect limited rental supply and economic demand rather than true affordability for residents earning so little.

Okeechobee's rent is cheap, but income is cheaper

Okeechobee's $974 median rent undercuts all regional neighbors—Marion ($1,174), Martin ($1,499), and Orange ($1,675)—but its $52,288 household income lags Marion by $6,200 and Orange by nearly $25,000. The absolute savings on rent don't offset the income disadvantage for workers seeking upward mobility.

Okeechobee's low rent masks income constraints

A typical Okeechobee renter earning $52,288 annually pays $974 monthly—a 22.4% ratio that's mathematically affordable but practically tight. Homeowners fare better at $712 monthly (16.3% of income), yet the median home value of $179,000 still requires significant savings in a county with limited wage growth.

Okeechobee suits only ultra-budget relocators

Okeechobee County delivers the state's lowest rents and cheapest homes, but only consider relocating here if you're remote-working or retiring—local wages lag substantially. Compare your income requirements against Marion or Okaloosa counties to ensure you're not trading rent savings for economic stagnation.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Okeechobee County

via IncomeByCounty

Okeechobee significantly below national average

Okeechobee County's median household income of $52,288 falls $22,467 short of the national median of $74,755, placing the county in the lowest tier nationally. This rural central Florida community faces economic headwinds typical of agricultural regions.

Lowest income in the eight-county group

At $52,288, Okeechobee's median household income ranks significantly below Florida's state average of $65,468 by $13,180. The county is among Florida's lowest-earning regions overall.

Substantial gap from surrounding counties

Okeechobee's $52,288 trails nearby Marion County ($58,535) and every other comparison county by substantial margins. The county's agricultural economy and limited urban development restrict household earnings relative to more urbanized Florida regions.

Rent manageable despite low income

Okeechobee's rent-to-income ratio of 22.4% is reasonable, and the median home value of $179,000 is the lowest among the eight counties. Despite low incomes, housing affordability remains a relative strength in this rural community.

Build wealth through discipline and opportunity

Okeechobee residents earning below state average should prioritize emergency savings and seek skill-development opportunities to increase earning potential. Explore community resources, local workforce programs, and affordable investment options that compound even modest savings over time.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Okeechobee County

via HealthByCounty

Okeechobee County faces health crisis

At 73.2 years, Okeechobee residents live 6.1 years less than the U.S. average of 79.3 years—the lowest life expectancy among all comparison counties. A staggering 25.9% report poor or fair health, the highest rate in this study, indicating severe chronic disease burden across the county.

Florida's most challenged county

Okeechobee ranks at the bottom of Florida's 67 counties with life expectancy 2.6 years below the state average of 75.8 years. Its 25.9% poor/fair health rate far exceeds Florida's typical profile, marking this rural county as facing exceptional health disparities.

Rural isolation deepens health gaps

Okeechobee's 73.2-year life expectancy trails every comparison county and neighboring Brevard County by 4.8 years. The county's 42 primary care providers and 92 mental health providers per 100,000—the lowest in this group—reflect rural provider shortages.

Uninsured rate compounds care gaps

With 17.5% of residents uninsured—the highest rate studied—Okeechobee faces a perfect storm: severe provider shortages and low insurance coverage prevent access to preventive care. Rural residents travel 45+ minutes for specialists, forcing many to skip care entirely until emergencies force them to hospitals.

Okeechobee, get covered now

Nearly 1 in 5 Okeechobee residents lacks health insurance. Visit healthcare.gov or call 211 immediately to explore Medicaid expansion, marketplace subsidies, and rural health programs designed for counties like yours—your health depends on it.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Okeechobee County

via RiskByCounty

Okeechobee carries moderate risk

Okeechobee County scores 80.28 on composite disaster risk, earning a relatively low rating that exceeds the national average modestly. The score reflects exposure concentrated in flooding and hurricanes rather than extreme multi-hazard vulnerability. Residents face greater risk than average Americans, though substantially less than Florida's most hazard-exposed counties.

Slightly above Florida's average

Okeechobee's 80.28 score sits just 4.5 points above Florida's state average of 75.74, placing it comfortably in the middle tier statewide. The county ranks significantly lower in risk than coastal neighbors like Miami-Dade and Martin. Its inland, lake-adjacent location creates more moderate overall exposure than oceanside counties.

Safer than surrounding coastal areas

Okeechobee County's 80.28 score is measurably lower than nearby Martin (94.08) and Indian River counties, reflecting its inland location away from direct ocean exposure. Tornado risk of 44.18 is substantially lower than panhandle counties, while flood risk of 80.28 is tied to lake and canal systems rather than ocean surge. Okeechobee represents a lower-risk option in its region.

Flooding and hurricanes are primary

Okeechobee County's highest risks are tied between flood (80.28) and hurricane (93.53), reflecting its position near Lake Okeechobee and exposure to tropical systems. Wildfire risk of 89.85 presents seasonal threats, while tornado risk is comparatively low at 44.18. Water-related hazards dominate the county's disaster landscape.

Flood and windstorm coverage advised

Okeechobee County residents should carry homeowners insurance with windstorm coverage and obtain flood insurance given the county's 80.28 flood risk and proximity to Lake Okeechobee. Properties within flood-prone zones or near canal systems should prioritize flood protection and elevation where feasible. Annual policy reviews ensure adequate coverage as property values and hazard exposure evolve.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

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