Suwannee County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Suwannee County, Florida had an estimated 47,536 residents on July 1, 2024, up 9.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,473, across 689 square miles. County output reached $2.10 bn in 2024, 755 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 22 7(a) approvals worth $22.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Suwannee County
How many people live in Suwannee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,342
- Households16,112
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$56,658
- Median age42.3
- Median gross rent$884 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$171,600
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over32,088
- Population under 189,471
- Share under 1820.9 percent
- Population 65 and over9,627
- Share 65 and over21.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,244
- Civilian labor force18,857
- Unemployment rate6.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over52.6 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties44th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1093rd of 3,222
Suwannee County is the 44th largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.2 percent against 20.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Suwannee County
Is Suwannee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202447,536
- Census 2020 base population43,473
- Population change since the 2020 census base9.35 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,402
- Births, 2024420
- Deaths, 2024690
- Natural change, 2024-270
- Net domestic migration, 20241,548
- Net international migration, 2024123
- Total net migration, 20241,671
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,850
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents170th of 3,144
The county has grown 9.35 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Suwannee County
Where are people moving to Suwannee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,598
- People arriving, from those returns3,077
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,090
- Net household movement508
- Adjusted gross income arriving$80.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$38.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$50,232
- Average income of a leaving household$38,563
- Largest single originColumbia County (196 households)
- Largest single destinationColumbia County (212 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | 196 | 402 | $7.3 m |
| Miami-Dade County | 61 | 109 | $2.2 m |
| Duval County | 57 | 102 | $3.1 m |
| Alachua County | 54 | 111 | $2.2 m |
| Hamilton County | 48 | 97 | $1.7 m |
| Lafayette County | 45 | 102 | $2.1 m |
| Pinellas County | 44 | 84 | $2.3 m |
| Polk County | 42 | 78 | $2.1 m |
Households arriving report $11,669 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 Columbia 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.
Suwannee County
What is the Suwannee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.10 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.91 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202410.3 percent
- GDP change over five years69.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes43rd of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1233rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$46,384
Output grew 10.3 percent in the latest year and 69.3 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.
Suwannee County
Employment by industry in Suwannee County
- Covered employment, annual average12,030
- Establishments reporting934
- Average annual pay$47,639
- Average weekly wage$916
- Retail trade, employment1,962
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,461
- Manufacturing, employment1,852
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$54,205
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,349
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$49,293
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,119
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,523
- Construction, employment795
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment491
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,962 | 150 | $35,461 |
| Manufacturing | 1,852 | 26 | $54,205 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,349 | 106 | $49,293 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,119 | 63 | $25,523 |
| Construction | 795 | 130 | $59,610 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 491 | 59 | $46,243 |
| Wholesale trade | 355 | 38 | $62,037 |
| Other services, except public administration | 235 | 59 | $42,033 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,962 jobs, 16.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Suwannee County
How many businesses are in Suwannee County?
- Establishments, all industries755
- Employment at those establishments9,268
- Annual payroll$377.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents16.7
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.
Suwannee County
Building permits in Suwannee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024136
- Declared construction value permitted$29.4 m
- Single family units authorized130
- Multifamily units authorized6
- Multifamily share of units4.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$215,908
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.4
Single-family homes are 95.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Suwannee County
SBA loans in Suwannee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded22
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$22.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$998,077
- Median 7(a) approval$214,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,500
- 90th percentile approval$2,572,050
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)109
- Jobs per approval5.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active8
- Distinct industries receiving approvals17
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer36.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countBroilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production (4)
- Most active lenderFirst Federal Bank (6)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.2 m
- Average 504 approval$1,059,750
- Median 504 approval$485,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval14.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.2
- Most active CDCFlorida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc. (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$26.2 m
The average approval of $998,077 sits well above the median of $214,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 36.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Suwannee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Suwannee County
Do SBA loans in Suwannee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full0
- Charged off4
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure9
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed5
Only 4 loans have 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.
Suwannee County
SBA lending by place in Suwannee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Live Oak, approvals17
- Mc Alpin, approvals1
- Lake City, approvals1
- Wellborn, approvals1
- O Brien, approvals1
- Branford, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | 17 | $14,164,200 |
| Mc Alpin | 1 | $5,000,000 |
| Lake City | 1 | $2,582,500 |
| Wellborn | 1 | $116,000 |
| O Brien | 1 | $70,000 |
| Branford | 1 | $25,000 |
Live Oak accounts for 17 approvals against 1 in Mc Alpin. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Suwannee County
How large is Suwannee County?
- Land area689 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties35th of 67
- Width, east to west27.1 mi
- Height, north to south38.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land66
- Establishments per square mile1.10
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.
Suwannee County
Flood risk in Suwannee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Suwannee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 120300
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 10
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- 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 Suwannee 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 Suwannee County (community 120300), 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 Suwannee 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 Suwannee 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 Suwannee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,342
- Households16,112
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$56,658
- Median age42.3
Common questions
Suwannee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Suwannee County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 47,536 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 45,342, in 16,112 households, ranking 44th of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Suwannee County's population growing?
The population has grown 9.35 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,473, to 47,536 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 420 births against 690 deaths, with net migration of 1,671. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Suwannee County?
$56,658. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $171,600, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $884 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Suwannee County?
755 establishments, employing 9,268 people with an annual payroll of $377.9 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 Suwannee County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,962 jobs, 16.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,030 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,639, or $916 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Suwannee County?
22 7(a) approvals totaling $22.0 m since FY2020, across 8 lenders, with a median approval of $214,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $4.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Suwannee County?
136 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $29.4 m. Multifamily was 4.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Suwannee 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 Suwannee County come from?
The largest single origin is Columbia County, with 196 households. Arriving households report an average income of $50,232 against $38,563 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Suwannee 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 Suwannee 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.
Suwannee County
Cities and places in Suwannee.
2 Census places lie wholly or partly in Suwannee County. All 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | city | 6,985 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Branford | town | 950 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 22 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Suwannee County, the largest being Mc Alpin (1), Lake City (1), Wellborn (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby