C-

Saint Cloud, FL

Source:

Affordability Score: 52/100

Population: 61,432 · 4 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Saint Cloud, FL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes covering 61,432 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (52/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $86,220, median home value of $377,270, median rent of $1,779 per month, and 32.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,972 per month (studio $1,650, 1BR $1,731, 3BR $2,476, 4BR $2,924). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,556 per year, consuming 12% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, commute. Unemployment currently reads 5.5% and poverty 9.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$86,220
Median household income
Education C
32.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.4x
Home value $377,270 vs income
Commute F
36 min
Average commute time
Rent C
$1,972/mo
2BR fair market rent (27% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$10,556/yr
Center-based infant care (12% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$86,220
▲ 39% vs national
Per Capita Income
$34,489
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Poverty Rate
9.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$377,270
▲ 37% vs national
Median Rent
$1,779/mo
Owner Occupied
78.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,972/mo
▲ 64% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,650
1BR
$1,731
2BR
$1,972
3BR
$2,476
4BR
$2,924

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
32.5%
▲ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
60.4%
Median Age
38.3
Avg. Commute
36 min
▲ 10 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,556/yr
12% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,840/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,320/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,240/yr

What This Means

Saint Cloud, FL receives an overall affordability grade of C- (52/100), aggregated from 4 ZIP codes with a total population of 61,432. Challenges include housing and commute. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Saint Cloud ZIP Codes
View all 4 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Saint Cloud, FL affordable?
Saint Cloud, FL receives an overall affordability grade of C- (52/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $86,220. Median home value is $377,270.
What is the cost of living in Saint Cloud?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,779/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,972/mo. Infant childcare $10,556/yr. Median home value $377,270.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →