Housing decision brief
Brevard County, FL Housing Market
Brevard County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
45th lowest home value out of 67 Florida counties with data | 46th lowest rent out of 67
Median home value
$304,400
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,456/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,144/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
4.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
32.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$312/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $312/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Brevard County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $304,400 | $254,300 | $281,900 | 20% pressure20% above Florida county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,456 | $1,230 | $1,163 | 18% pressure18% above Florida county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,144 | $1,041 | $1,672 | 10% pressure10% above Florida county median |
Median household income | $75,817 | $66,154 | $74,755 | 15% favorable15% above Florida county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.70% | 0.74% | 1.02% | 5% favorable5% below Florida county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 32.00% | 32.00% | N/A | Near state median32.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$17,577
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$26,788
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Brevard County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $1,456/month representing approximately 23.0% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 32.0%.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Brevard County is $1,456/month, while owner costs run $1,144/month. Owning saves approximately $312/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $58,240/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $49,029/year. With a median household income of $75,817, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 32.0% of renter households in Brevard County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Pinellas County where rent averages $1,525/month, Brevard County is approximately 5% less expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa County, FL | $324,800 | $1,475/mo | Same-state comparison near $324,800 home value and $1,475/mo rent. |
| St. Lucie County, FL | $305,800 | $1,489/mo | Same-state comparison near $305,800 home value and $1,489/mo rent. |
| Lake County, FL | $287,900 | $1,468/mo | Same-state comparison near $287,900 home value and $1,468/mo rent. |
| Hillsborough County, FL | $333,300 | $1,543/mo | Same-state comparison near $333,300 home value and $1,543/mo rent. |
| Pinellas County, FL | $319,000 | $1,525/mo | Same-state comparison near $319,000 home value and $1,525/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Brevard County
Is Brevard County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Brevard County?
How much income do you need for housing in Brevard County?
What should I double-check before moving to Brevard County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.