Hardee County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Hardee County, Florida had an estimated 26,068 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 25,332, across 638 square miles. County output reached $1.48 bn in 2024, 436 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 9 7(a) approvals worth $8.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Hardee County
How many people live in Hardee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202425,675
- Households8,219
- Average household size3.12
- Median household income$60,489
- Median age35.8
- Median gross rent$962 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$153,600
- Home value to household income2.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher12.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over16,675
- Population under 186,270
- Share under 1824.4 percent
- Population 65 and over4,138
- Share 65 and over16.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6415,267
- Civilian labor force10,567
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.5 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties52nd of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1630th of 3,222
Hardee County is the 52nd largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 2.5 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.4 percent against 16.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Hardee County
Is Hardee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202426,068
- Census 2020 base population25,332
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.91 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024124
- Births, 2024357
- Deaths, 2024321
- Natural change, 202436
- Net domestic migration, 2024-56
- Net international migration, 2024144
- Total net migration, 202488
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024215
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents894th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.91 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Hardee County
Where are people moving to Hardee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving674
- People arriving, from those returns1,246
- Tax returns filed by households leaving597
- Net household movement77
- Adjusted gross income arriving$40.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$18.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$60,678
- Average income of a leaving household$37,601
- Largest single originPolk County (129 households)
- Largest single destinationPolk County (101 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 129 | 246 | $4.6 m |
| Highlands County | 68 | 141 | $2.8 m |
| Manatee County | 55 | 106 | $2.3 m |
| Hillsborough County | 47 | 104 | $2.0 m |
| DeSoto County | 29 | 53 | $1.0 m |
| Leon County | 21 | 24 | $249,000 |
Households arriving report $23,077 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Polk County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Hardee County
What is the Hardee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.48 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.50 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-1.9 percent
- GDP change over five years30.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes48th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1529th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$57,470
Output grew -1.9 percent in the latest year and 30.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Hardee County
Employment by industry in Hardee County
- Covered employment, annual average7,044
- Establishments reporting596
- Average annual pay$47,192
- Average weekly wage$908
- Accommodation and food services, employment960
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$33,455
- Health care and social assistance, employment915
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$48,904
- Retail trade, employment814
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,175
- Construction, employment325
- Construction, average annual pay$50,012
- Manufacturing, employment252
- Finance and insurance, employment156
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 960 | 43 | $33,455 |
| Health care and social assistance | 915 | 48 | $48,904 |
| Retail trade | 814 | 80 | $33,175 |
| Construction | 325 | 58 | $50,012 |
| Manufacturing | 252 | 12 | $44,944 |
| Finance and insurance | 156 | 14 | $74,874 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 145 | 20 | $53,185 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 48 | 6 | $26,409 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 960 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Hardee County
How many businesses are in Hardee County?
- Establishments, all industries436
- Employment at those establishments4,829
- Annual payroll$218.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Hardee County
Building permits in Hardee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024123
- Declared construction value permitted$34.1 m
- Single family units authorized101
- Multifamily units authorized22
- Multifamily share of units17.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$277,246
- Units authorized per 1,000 households15.0
Single-family homes are 82.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Hardee County
SBA loans in Hardee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded9
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$8.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$929,444
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)65
- Jobs per approval7.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active7
- Distinct industries receiving approvals7
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter7
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$330,000
- Average 504 approval$165,000
- Median 504 approval$165,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval2.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.2
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$8.7 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hardee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Hardee County
Do SBA loans in Hardee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure7
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 1 loan has reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hardee County
SBA lending by place in Hardee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Zolfo Springs, approvals5
- Wauchula, approvals3
- Bowling Green, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Zolfo Springs | 5 | $1,670,000 |
| Wauchula | 3 | $1,695,000 |
| Bowling Green | 1 | $5,000,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hardee County
How large is Hardee County?
- Land area638 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties40th of 67
- Width, east to west30.2 mi
- Height, north to south21.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land40
- Establishments per square mile0.68
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Hardee County
Flood risk in Hardee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Hardee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 120103
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 10
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Hardee County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Hardee County (community 120103), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 10, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Hardee County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Hardee County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Hardee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202425,675
- Households8,219
- Average household size3.12
- Median household income$60,489
- Median age35.8
Common questions
Hardee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Hardee County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 26,068 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 25,675, in 8,219 households, ranking 52nd of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Hardee County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.91 percent since the 2020 census base of 25,332, to 26,068 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 357 births against 321 deaths, with net migration of 88. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Hardee County?
$60,489. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,600, which is 2.5 times income, and median gross rent is $962 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Hardee County?
436 establishments, employing 4,829 people with an annual payroll of $218.0 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Hardee County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 960 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 7,044 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,192, or $908 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Hardee County?
9 7(a) approvals totaling $8.4 m since FY2020, across 7 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $330,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Hardee County?
123 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $34.1 m. Multifamily was 17.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Hardee County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Hardee County come from?
The largest single origin is Polk County, with 129 households. Arriving households report an average income of $60,678 against $37,601 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Hardee County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Hardee County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Hardee County
Cities and places in Hardee.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Hardee County. All 9 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wauchula | city | 4,927 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Bowling Green | city | 2,226 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Zolfo Springs | town | 2,158 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Green Springs | CDP | 762 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lemon Grove | CDP | 547 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gardner | CDP | 381 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ona | CDP | 44 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Green | CDP | 39 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Limestone | CDP | 25 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby