Short answer: Fort Lauderdale has 185,604 residents in the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimate, up from 182,760 in the 2020 Census, and the City of Fort Lauderdale calls it the largest of Broward County's 31 municipalities. Its median age is 42.8, about 27 percent of residents were born abroad, the median household earns $83,130, and 45.9 percent of occupied homes are rented.
Last verified: October 16, 2026, against the sources listed at the end of this page.
How many people live in Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale has 185,604 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimate, up from the 182,760 people the 2020 Census counted in the city (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
Two different counts answer the question. The 2020 Census figure of 182,760 comes from the 2020 Census Redistricting Data, table P1 (2020 Census P1). The ACS 2020-2024 figure of 185,604 is a 5-year survey estimate, and the same ACS release supplies the age, income and housing detail on this page (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). The City of Fort Lauderdale's own About page gives an estimated population of 186,220 for its approximately 36 square miles, with no year attached (City of Fort Lauderdale).
Fort Lauderdale is the largest of Broward County's 31 municipalities, according to the city (City of Fort Lauderdale). Broward County as a whole has 1,977,129 residents in ACS 2020-2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024, Broward County). Figures on this hub are for the incorporated city, Census place 1224000, unless they are marked as Broward County numbers.
Is Fort Lauderdale an older city than the rest of Broward County?
Fort Lauderdale skews slightly older than Broward County, with a median age of 42.8 years against 41.3 for the county in ACS 2020-2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS, Broward County).
Residents 65 and over make up 19.6 percent of Fort Lauderdale, compared with 17.9 percent across Broward County (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS, Broward County). Children under 18 are 17.3 percent of city residents, and people 25 to 34 are 14.5 percent (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). The city also leans male: 52.5 percent of Fort Lauderdale residents are men; among adults 18 and over the ratio is 111.9 men per 100 women (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
Fort Lauderdale has 80,999 households with an average of 2.25 people each (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). For school planning the Fort Lauderdale public schools guide covers enrollment and school assignment; the age figures here only describe how many children live in the city.
Where were Fort Lauderdale residents born, and what languages are spoken at home?
About 27 percent of Fort Lauderdale residents were born outside the United States, and most of them, 73.7 percent, were born in Latin America (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
The foreign-born share is 27.0 percent of Fort Lauderdale's population, another 33.7 percent were born in a different U.S. state, and 36.4 percent were born in Florida, their state of residence (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). At home, 30.1 percent of people age 5 and over in Fort Lauderdale speak a language other than English, and 17.7 percent speak Spanish (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
By race and Hispanic origin, 44.4 percent of Fort Lauderdale residents are non-Hispanic white alone and 28.7 percent are non-Hispanic Black or African American alone (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Hispanic or Latino residents of any race are 20.3 percent of the city, well below the 32.8 percent share across Broward County (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS, Broward County). In the race detail, 5.7 percent of Fort Lauderdale residents are Black or African American alone and report Haitian as their group (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
What do Fort Lauderdale households earn, and how many live in poverty?
The median Fort Lauderdale household earns $83,130 a year in 2024 dollars, above the Broward County median of $77,633, yet 15.0 percent of city residents live below the poverty level against 12.2 percent countywide (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS, Broward County).
Per capita income in the city is $59,629 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). On education, 40.8 percent of Fort Lauderdale adults age 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
On work, 64.2 percent of Fort Lauderdale residents 16 and over are in the labor force, and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year unemployment rate is 5.3 percent (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). That 5-year survey figure is not a monthly rate; the Fort Lauderdale economy hub carries the latest preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics rate for the wider labor market. On commuting, 19.0 percent of Fort Lauderdale workers worked from home, and the mean trip to work takes 26.1 minutes (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
Do most Fort Lauderdale residents own or rent, and what does housing cost?
A slim majority of occupied Fort Lauderdale homes, 54.1 percent, are owner-occupied and 45.9 percent are rented, with a median gross rent of $1,854 a month in ACS 2020-2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
Fort Lauderdale has 101,691 housing units, and 20.3 percent of them were vacant when surveyed (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By structure type, 37.6 percent of Fort Lauderdale units are in buildings with 20 or more units, while 34.0 percent are single-family detached houses (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). The median value of an owner-occupied unit is $486,700 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
Among Fort Lauderdale renters for whom the ratio can be computed, 49.4 percent pay 35 percent or more of household income on gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). The real estate section goes further by neighborhood: the Fort Lauderdale market trends guide covers prices, and the Victoria Park, Rio Vista, Coral Ridge and Las Olas condos guides describe those areas.
| Measure | Fort Lauderdale | Broward County |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 185,604 | 1,977,129 |
| Median age | 42.8 years | 41.3 years |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.3% | 32.8% |
| Median household income | $83,130 | $77,633 |
| People below poverty level | 15.0% | 12.2% |
Which Fort Lauderdale guides answer the next questions about residents?
The Fort Lauderdale demographics hub is the population front door, and the next questions people ask, about jobs, home prices, schools and flood exposure, are answered in other Fort Lauderdale sections listed in the table below.
Last verified: October 15, 2026, on the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 data profiles DP02 to DP05, the 2020 Census table P1 and the City of Fort Lauderdale About page. Every Fort Lauderdale figure on this page comes from ACS 2020-2024 unless it is labeled 2020 Census or City of Fort Lauderdale (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). The city's 186,220 figure is useful as a headline but carries no date on the City of Fort Lauderdale website, so it should not be compared year to year with Census tables (City of Fort Lauderdale). On residence a year earlier, 84.4 percent of Fort Lauderdale residents age 1 and over lived in the same house a year earlier (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
| Question | Key fact (ACS 2020-2024) | Guide that goes deeper |
|---|---|---|
| How big is Fort Lauderdale and who runs it? | 185,604 residents | Fort Lauderdale town profile |
| Who are the big employers? | 64.2% labor force participation | Fort Lauderdale major employers guide (economy section) |
| What do homes cost? | $486,700 median owner home value | Fort Lauderdale market trends guide (real estate section) |
| Where do children go to school? | 17.3% of residents under 18 | Fort Lauderdale public schools guide |
| How exposed are homes to flooding? | 101,691 housing units | Fort Lauderdale flood risk zones guide (safety section) |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale has 185,604 residents in the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimate. The 2020 Census counted 182,760, and the City of Fort Lauderdale website gives an undated estimate of 186,220 for the city.
Is Fort Lauderdale the biggest city in Broward County?
Yes. The City of Fort Lauderdale says it is the largest of Broward County's 31 municipalities. It has 185,604 residents in ACS 2020-2024, and Broward County as a whole has 1,977,129.
What is the median age in Fort Lauderdale?
The median age in Fort Lauderdale is 42.8 years in ACS 2020-2024, compared with 41.3 for Broward County. Residents 65 and over are 19.6 percent of the city population.
What is the median household income in Fort Lauderdale?
Median household income in Fort Lauderdale is $83,130 in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars (ACS 2020-2024), above the Broward County median of $77,633. The city poverty rate is 15.0 percent of residents.
What percentage of Fort Lauderdale residents rent?
Renters occupy 45.9 percent of occupied Fort Lauderdale homes in ACS 2020-2024, and the median gross rent is $1,854 a month. Nearly half of renters, 49.4 percent, pay 35 percent or more of household income on rent.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year Data Profile DP05, Fort Lauderdale city https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=ACSDP5Y2024.DP05&g=160XX00US1224000 Used for: population, age, sex, race and Hispanic origin
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year Data Profile DP02, Fort Lauderdale city https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=ACSDP5Y2024.DP02&g=160XX00US1224000 Used for: households, place of birth, language, education, residence a year earlier
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year Data Profile DP03, Fort Lauderdale city https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=ACSDP5Y2024.DP03&g=160XX00US1224000 Used for: income, poverty, labor force, commuting
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year Data Profile DP04, Fort Lauderdale city https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=ACSDP5Y2024.DP04&g=160XX00US1224000 Used for: housing units, vacancy, tenure, structure type, rent, home value
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Redistricting Data P1, Fort Lauderdale city https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=DECENNIALPL2020.P1&g=160XX00US1224000 Used for: 2020 Census count
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year Data Profile DP05, Broward County https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=ACSDP5Y2024.DP05&g=050XX00US12011 Used for: county population, median age, 65 and over, Hispanic share
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year Data Profile DP03, Broward County https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=ACSDP5Y2024.DP03&g=050XX00US12011 Used for: county median household income and poverty rate
- City of Fort Lauderdale, About Fort Lauderdale https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/government/about-fort-lauderdale Used for: city population estimate, 36 square miles, 31 Broward municipalities, incorporation
How this page was made
Digital Towns uses AI assistance to research and write its guides, and every page is only as good as the sources it cites. Our goal is the most accurate, useful local information possible.
This page was fact-checked twice before publishing.
If you see an error, or anything you can show is false, tell us right away and we will take a third look.
Report an error
Thank you. We'll take a third look and correct the page if it's wrong.
