F

Waldo, FL

Source:

Affordability Score: 35/100

Population: 2,142 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Waldo, FL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,142 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (35/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $43,537, median home value of $124,200, median rent of $705 per month, and 22.7% 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 $1,493 per month (studio $1,154, 1BR $1,246, 3BR $1,868, 4BR $1,977). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $13,000 per year, consuming 30% 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 income, education, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 3.4% and poverty 22.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$43,537
Median household income
Education F
22.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.9x
Home value $124,200 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,493/mo
2BR fair market rent (41% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$13,000/yr
Center-based infant care (30% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$43,537
▼ 30% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,122
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Poverty Rate
22.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$124,200
▼ 55% vs national
Median Rent
$705/mo
Owner Occupied
69.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,493/mo
▲ 24% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,154
1BR
$1,246
2BR
$1,493
3BR
$1,868
4BR
$1,977

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%
▼ 7 ppt vs national
High School+
63.7%
Median Age
53.2
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$13,000/yr
30% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,490/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,320/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,968/yr

What This Means

Waldo, FL receives an overall affordability grade of F (35/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,142. Challenges include income and education and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Waldo, FL affordable?
Waldo, FL receives an overall affordability grade of F (35/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $43,537. Median home value is $124,200.
What is the cost of living in Waldo?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $705/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,493/mo. Infant childcare $13,000/yr. Median home value $124,200.
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 →