RANK #728 / 1001 NAT · #22 / 41 FL · POP 412,924
1YR FORECAST: -1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
Mount Dora, known for its historic downtown and annual arts festival, offers a distinctive charm within Lake County, Florida. Located in the central part of the state, roughly 30 miles northwest of Orlando, Lake County provides a quieter, more rural atmosphere while remaining accessible to urban amenities. The county is characterized by rolling hills and over 1,000 lakes, including the Harris Chain of Lakes, making it a destination for boating, fishing, and water sports. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore numerous parks and trails, such as Lake Louisa State Park with its multi-use trails and cabins, or Ferndale Preserve, offering picturesque views. The climate allows for year-round outdoor activities.
Life in Lake County often appeals to those seeking a balance between natural surroundings and suburban convenience. Many residents commute to Orlando for work, with the SR 50 corridor being a common route. The public school system, Lake County Schools, operates 49 schools and is an A-rated district. The economy is experiencing growth, with a low unemployment rate and rising median advertised salaries. Tourism is a significant sector, evidenced by increased hotel occupancy and tourist development tax collections. The county has also seen residential real estate activity, with increases in both single-family home and townhome/condo sales.
Lake County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -3.4% matches the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 20.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 27/100, Lake County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $73,161 combined with job growth of +1.0% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Lake County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $318,400 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,586/month on average.
Lake County's population is growing — up +3.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +1.0%). Home values shifted -3.4% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.68% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lake County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.