Kissimmee
RANK #965 / 996 NAT · #39 / 41 FL · POP 393,745
1YR FORECAST: -3.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +6%
Kissimmee, the county seat of Osceola County, Florida, offers a blend of historic charm and access to major attractions. Located south of Orlando, the commute to downtown Orlando typically takes 25-35 minutes via Florida's Turnpike or US 441, with SunRail providing a commuter rail option. The community maintains a "small-town hospitality" feel despite its proximity to larger urban centers. Osceola County boasts extensive natural amenities, including the headwaters of the Florida Everglades at Shingle Creek Regional Park, offering opportunities for hiking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking. Lake Tohopekaliga is another prominent feature, known for boating and fishing. The county also features over 40 parks and recreation facilities.
Life in Osceola County attracts a diverse population, including families and those seeking a balance of affordability and access to amenities. The School District of Osceola County serves over 80,000 students across 60 schools, offering various academic and career programs. The economy, historically reliant on tourism and agriculture, is diversifying. Recent developments include a focus on advanced technology and manufacturing, particularly at NeoCity, a 500-acre high-tech campus. This initiative aims to create technology-focused jobs and stimulate economic growth across various sectors.
Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Housing looks overvalued at 7.2x — 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.
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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
US Development Data Center Campus
US Development
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
East Osceola County Infrastructure Agreement (Edgewater East and West)
BTI Partners, Osceola County, City of St. Cloud
|
$261M | Planned |
|
Osceola County Solar Portfolio (3 projects)
Invenergy, Harmony Florida Solar LLC
|
$224M | Operating/Under Construction |
|
NeoCity Development (Center for Neovation & BRIDG)
Osceola County, SkyWater Technology, BRIDG, imec
|
$200M | Operating |
|
La Rosa Holdings Corp. AI Data Center
La Rosa Holdings Corp.
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Osceola County scores just 2/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #965 of 996 counties. Job growth at +4.5% and median household income of $64,312 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Osceola County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $285,200 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 $1,537/month on average.
Osceola County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +4.5% clip. Home values shifted -4.8% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.71% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Osceola County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.