D

Wildwood, FL

Source:

Affordability Score: 44/100

Population: 17,406 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Wildwood, FL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 17,406 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (44/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $66,136, median home value of $387,600, median rent of $1,217 per month, and 25.9% 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 $1,328 per month (studio $1,076, 1BR $1,139, 3BR $1,655, 4BR $1,937). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,700 per year, consuming 18% 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. Unemployment currently reads 6.3% and poverty 13.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$66,136
Median household income
Education D
25.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.9x
Home value $387,600 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,328/mo
2BR fair market rent (24% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$11,700/yr
Center-based infant care (18% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$66,136
▲ 7% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,891
Unemployment Rate
6.3%
Poverty Rate
13.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$387,600
▲ 41% vs national
Median Rent
$1,217/mo
Owner Occupied
73.3%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,328/mo
▲ 11% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,076
1BR
$1,139
2BR
$1,328
3BR
$1,655
4BR
$1,937

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
25.9%
▼ 4 ppt vs national
High School+
60.4%
Median Age
52.7
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,700/yr
18% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,620/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,100/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,540/yr

What This Means

Wildwood, FL receives an overall affordability grade of D (44/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 17,406. Challenges include housing. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Wildwood, FL affordable?
Wildwood, FL receives an overall affordability grade of D (44/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $66,136. Median home value is $387,600.
What is the cost of living in Wildwood?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,217/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,328/mo. Infant childcare $11,700/yr. Median home value $387,600.
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 →