Desoto County Census Data

HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES: From 2005-2007 there were 11,000 households in DeSoto County. The average household size was 3 people.

Families made up 70 percent of the households in DeSoto County. This figure includes both married-couple families (52 percent) and other families (18 percent). Nonfamily households made up 30 percent of all households in DeSoto County. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.

The Types of Households in DeSoto County, Florida in 2005-2007

	Married-couple families	52%
	Other families	18%
	People living alone	24%
	Other nonfamily households	7%

Percent of households

NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE: Data for this section cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small. Displaying the data would risk disclosing information for individuals.

GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: From 2005-2007, 82 percent of the people at least one year old living in DeSoto County were living in the same residence one year earlier; 9 percent had moved during the past year from another residence in the same county, 5 percent from another county in the same state, 3 percent from another state, and 1 percent from abroad.

Geographic Mobility of Residents of DeSoto County, Florida in 2005-2007

	Same residence	82%
	Different residence, same county	9%
	Different county, same state	5%
	Different state	3%
	Abroad	1%

Percent of people age 1 year and over

EDUCATION: From 2005-2007, 60 percent of people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school and 10 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Forty percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school.

The total school enrollment in DeSoto County was 6,400 from 2005-2007. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 1,100 and elementary or high school enrollment was 4,700 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 550.

The Educational Attainment of People in DeSoto County, Florida in 2005-2007

	Graduate or professional degree	4%
	Bachelor's degree	6%
	Associate's degree	3%
	Some college, no degree	14%
	High school diploma or equivalency	32%
	Less than high school diploma	40%

Percent of people 25 years and over

DISABILITY: In DeSoto County, among people at least five years old from 2005-2007, 18 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 5 percent of people 5 to 15 years old, to 13 percent of people 16 to 64 years old, and to 45 percent of those 65 and older.

INDUSTRIES: Data for this section cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small. Displaying the data would risk disclosing information for individuals.

OCCUPATIONS AND TYPE OF EMPLOYER: Data for this section cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small. Displaying the data would risk disclosing information for individuals.

TRAVEL TO WORK: Sixty percent of DeSoto County workers drove to work alone from 2005-2007, 35 percent carpooled, less than 0.5 percent took public transportation, and 3 percent used other means. The remaining 1 percent worked at home. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average 27.6 minutes to get to work.

INCOME: The median income of households in DeSoto County was $36,825. Sixty-six percent of the households received earnings and 22 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Forty-three percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $14,222. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.

POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: From 2005-2007, 23 percent of people were in poverty. Thirty-six percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 11 percent of people 65 years old and over. Nineteen percent of all families and 49 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present had incomes below the poverty level.

Poverty Rates in DeSoto County, Florida in 2005-2007

	People age 65 and over	11%
	Related children under 18 years	36%
	All families	19%
	Female householder families	49%

Percent below poverty level

POPULATION OF DeSoto County: From 2005-2007, DeSoto County had a total population of 34,000 - 15,000 (43 percent) females and 20,000 (57 percent) males. The median age was 34.8 years. Twenty-two percent of the population was under 18 years and 16 percent was 65 years and older.

The Age Distribution of People in DeSoto County, Florida in 2005-2007

	65 and over	16%
	45 to 64	21%
	25 to 44	29%
	18 to 24	11%
	Under 18	22%

Percent of population

For people reporting one race alone, 83 percent was White; 11 percent was Black or African American; less than 0.5 percent was American Indian and Alaska Native; 1 percent was Asian; less than 0.5 percent was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 5 percent was Some other race. One percent reported Two or more races. Thirty-two percent of the people in DeSoto County was Hispanic. Fifty-five percent of the people in DeSoto County was White non-Hispanic. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: From 2005-2007, DeSoto County had a total of 14,000 housing units, 24 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, 48 percent was in single-unit structures, 13 percent was in multi-unit structures, and 37 percent was mobile homes. Twenty-nine percent of the housing units were built since 1990.

The Types of Housing Units in DeSoto County, Florida in 2005-2007

	Single-unit structures	48%
	In multi-unit structures	13%
	Mobile homes	37%

Percent of housing units

OCCUPIED HOUSING UNIT CHARACTERISTICS: From 2005-2007, DeSoto County had 11,000 occupied housing units - 8,700 (80 percent) owner occupied and 2,200 (20 percent) renter occupied. Six percent of the households did not have telephone service and 9 percent of the households did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Thirty-six percent had two vehicles and another 13 percent had three or more.

HOUSING COSTS: Data for this section cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small. Displaying the data would risk disclosing information for individuals.