Florida · GEOID 12045

Gulf County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 15,131 · 9,362 housing units

Median household income

$61,179

State $75,325

Median home value

$250,000

State $365,373

Median gross rent

$1,187

State $1,665

Homeownership rate

80.8%

State 67.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

58.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

21.1%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

2.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

39.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

36.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.09

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Gulf County	Florida
Population	15,131	22,416,077
Population density (per sq. mi.)	27.34	—
Median household income	$61,179	$75,325
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$80,700	—
Households	5,944	—
Average household size	2.11 people	—
Owner-occupied	80.8%	67.6%
Renter-occupied	19.2%	32.4%
Race	77.8% White · 13.7% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Gulf County compared with Florida.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

23.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 34.1%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	29.6%	$50,000	$1,250	$155,097
1 earner	27.0%	$58,350	$1,459	$186,179
2 earners	37.3%	$105,962	$2,649	$363,407
3+ earners	6.1%	$80,313	$2,008	$267,933

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

5,944

Average size: 2.11 people

Households with children

1,195

20.1% of households

Per-capita income

$37,156

Poverty rate: 13.2%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

80.8% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 68.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 10.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

31.4% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,995.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $250,000.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,187.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 3,418 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 3.8% · For rent 22.3% · Seasonal 53.3% · Other 19.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

26.8% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 73.2% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

19.5%

1,823 units of 9,362 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

7.3%

679 units of 9,362 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$48,943

100% MHI$61,179

120% MHI$73,415

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Gulf County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$48,200	$55,100	$68,850
100% AMI	$56,490	$64,560	$80,700
120% AMI	$67,800	$77,450	$96,850

HUD FMR Area: Gulf County, FL. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

58.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (27.2% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

21.1% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Gulf County.

Covered employment

3,926

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

492

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$48,616

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	766	$29,101	$77,304	−$172,696	$728
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	657	$54,741	$172,745	−$77,255	$1,369
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	584	$34,147	$96,087	−$153,913	$854
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	380	$47,627	$146,264	−$103,736	$1,191
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	309	$52,322	$163,741	−$86,259	$1,308
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	292	$76,105	$252,269	+$2,269	$1,903
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	180	$47,562	$146,022	−$103,978	$1,189
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	177	$76,709	$254,517	+$4,517	$1,918
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	110	$62,679	$202,293	−$47,707	$1,567
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	101	$36,480	$104,771	−$145,229	$912
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	79	$28,429	$74,803	−$175,197	$711
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	78	$99,213	$338,285	+$88,285	$2,480
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	56	$72,788	$239,922	−$10,078	$1,820
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	53	$89,664	$302,740	+$52,740	$2,242
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	51	$54,794	$172,942	−$77,058	$1,370
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	34	$30,500	$82,512	−$167,488	$763
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	10	$52,988	$166,220	−$83,780	$1,325
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	9	$32,138	$88,609	−$161,391	$803

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	708	$28,862	$76,415	−$173,585	$722
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	337	$57,439	$182,788	−$67,212	$1,436
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	309	$52,322	$163,741	−$86,259	$1,308
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	292	$76,105	$252,269	+$2,269	$1,903
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	289	$44,298	$133,873	−$116,127	$1,107
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	279	$90,325	$305,201	+$55,201	$2,258
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	274	$51,683	$161,362	−$88,638	$1,292
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	199	$33,253	$92,759	−$157,241	$831
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	149	$28,901	$76,560	−$173,440	$723
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	148	$50,334	$156,341	−$93,659	$1,258
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	78	$99,213	$338,285	+$88,285	$2,480
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	73	$26,621	$68,073	−$181,927	$666
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	66	$69,840	$228,949	−$21,051	$1,746
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	65	$31,830	$87,463	−$162,537	$796
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	63	$56,940	$180,930	−$69,070	$1,424
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	58	$32,027	$88,196	−$161,804	$801
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	37	$24,755	$61,127	−$188,873	$619
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	33	$52,482	$164,336	−$85,664	$1,312
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	33	$33,684	$94,364	−$155,636	$842
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	30	$42,624	$127,641	−$122,359	$1,066
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	23	$47,804	$146,923	−$103,077	$1,195
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	22	$43,927	$132,492	−$117,508	$1,098
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	21	$35,158	$99,851	−$150,149	$879
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	17	$58,597	$187,098	−$62,902	$1,465
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	12	$73,328	$241,932	−$8,068	$1,833
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	10	$52,988	$166,220	−$83,780	$1,325
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	9	$32,138	$88,609	−$161,391	$803
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	6	$58,544	$186,901	−$63,099	$1,464
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	5	$81,815	$273,524	+$23,524	$2,045

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023	3,620	—	—	$14.76	$30,700	$83,256	$768
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	3,860	—	—	$14.81	$30,790	$83,591	$770
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	210	—	—	$16.29	$33,890	$95,131	$847
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,200	—	—	$17.00	$35,350	$100,565	$884
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	3,410	—	—	$17.42	$36,240	$103,878	$906
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131	1,750	—	—	$18.23	$37,920	$110,132	$948
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,790	—	—	$20.17	$41,960	$125,170	$1,049
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,290	—	—	$21.22	$44,140	$133,285	$1,104
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,530	—	—	$21.36	$44,440	$134,401	$1,111
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,530	—	—	$21.71	$45,150	$137,044	$1,129
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	430	—	—	$22.11	$45,990	$140,171	$1,150
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	2,410	—	—	$25.32	$52,660	$164,999	$1,317
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	430	—	—	$25.90	$53,870	$169,503	$1,347
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,010	—	—	$26.37	$54,850	$173,151	$1,371
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	330	—	—	$26.57	$55,270	$174,714	$1,382
Paramedics SOC 29-2043	120	—	—	$26.94	$56,040	$177,580	$1,401
Electricians SOC 47-2111	470	—	—	$28.05	$58,330	$186,105	$1,458
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,990	—	—	—	$67,630	$220,722	$1,691
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,030	—	—	$42.00	$87,360	$294,164	$2,184

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 12045 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.