Poverty and living standards in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: official figures
15.0% of residents of Fort Lauderdale (27,542 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 281st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Florida: 12.6%).
How many children live in poverty in Fort Lauderdale?
25.1% of children under 18 in Fort Lauderdale lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (7,985 children), 139th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Florida: 16.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Fort Lauderdale?
By age, the poverty rate in Fort Lauderdale was 24.5% for children under 6 and 14.2% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Fort Lauderdale live in deep poverty?
11,536 people in Fort Lauderdale, 6.3% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 363rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Fort Lauderdale are cost-burdened?
58.1% of renting households in Fort Lauderdale spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (20,650 households), 188th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Florida: 60.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Fort Lauderdale spend half their income on rent?
29.6% of renting households in Fort Lauderdale spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 241st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Fort Lauderdale compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fort Lauderdale ranks 281 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 278 | Glendale | 15.1% |
| 279 | Council Bluffs | 15.1% |
| 280 | Deerfield Beach | 15.1% |
| 281 | Fort Lauderdale | 15.0% |
| 282 | Sarasota | 15.0% |
| 283 | Des Moines | 15.0% |
| 284 | Lexington | 14.9% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fort Lauderdale ranks 139 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 136 | Cleveland | 25.3% |
| 137 | Miami | 25.2% |
| 138 | Norfolk | 25.2% |
| 139 | Fort Lauderdale | 25.1% |
| 140 | Corpus Christi | 25.0% |
| 141 | Portsmouth | 24.9% |
| 142 | Victorville | 24.8% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fort Lauderdale ranks 363 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 360 | Riverside | 6.3% |
| 361 | Temple | 6.3% |
| 362 | Eau Claire | 6.3% |
| 363 | Fort Lauderdale | 6.3% |
| 364 | Gallatin | 6.3% |
| 365 | Moreno Valley | 6.3% |
| 366 | Lacey | 6.2% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Fort Lauderdale ranks 188 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 185 | Peabody | 58.3% |
| 186 | Orland Park | 58.1% |
| 187 | Garland | 58.1% |
| 188 | Fort Lauderdale | 58.1% |
| 189 | Rancho Cucamonga | 58.1% |
| 190 | Port Arthur | 58.1% |
| 191 | Fresno | 58.0% |
More on Fort Lauderdale: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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