RANK #545 / 1001 NAT · #24 / 41 FL · POP 412,924
1YR FORECAST: -1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
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 -2.3% runs above 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Lake County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
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.
Lake County scores 45/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#545). Median household income is $73,161 and job growth is running at +1.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
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 is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.1% clip. Home values shifted -2.3% in the past year.
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.