Fort Meade, Polk County, Florida Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Fort Meade, Florida, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Fort Meade, Florida. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Fort Meade, Florida. The estimated population of Fort Meade, Florida is 5,127 people, with a median age of 43.3.

We can look at the total population in Fort Meade over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
5,127
-16.81% -13.66%
2020
6,163
+0.97%
-
2019
6,104
+1.51%
-
2018
6,013
+1.26%
-
2017
5,938
- -

Population of Fort Meade, Florida by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
51.7%
53%
-2.45%
Black/African American
18.4%
15.4%
+19.48%
Native
0.4%
0.3%
+33.33%
Hispanic
28.5%
30%
-5.00%
Asian
0.1%
0.3%
-66.67%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
0.8%
1%
-20.00%
Other
0.1%
0%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Fort Meade, Florida by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 43.3 +9.34% 38.9 +7.16% 46.8 +14.15%
2020 39.6 +0.51% 36.3 -0.27% 41 +0.49%
2019 39.4 -1.01% 36.4 -5.21% 40.8 +1.24%
2018 39.8 +10.86% 38.4 +7.26% 40.3 +11.63%
2017 35.9 - 35.8 - 36.1 -

The median age of Fort Meade, Florida gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 455 -29.11% 491 -29.34% 308 356
10 to 19 354 -13.37% 480 -52.62% 302 241
20 to 29 374 -19.9% 414 -38.4% 276 268
30 to 39 393 +17.75% 318 -35.05% 443 206
40 to 49 251 -8.77% 316 -12.06% 228 272
50 to 59 353 -16.16% 342 -1.52% 278 317
60 to 69 235 -2.43% 345 -24.01% 223 267
70+ 400 +26.57% 417 +45.57% 504 638

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Fort Meade, Florida is $37,515.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Fort Meade.

  • Under 25
    $41,181.00
  • 25 to 44
    $37,813.00
  • 45 to 64
    $70,721.00
  • 65 and over
    $27,802.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Fort Meade, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Fort Meade, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Fort Meade, Florida is currently $58,312.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

1.68% of households in Fort Meade are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Fort Meade against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    32.28%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    28.22%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    11.64%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    9.61%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    11.18%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.39%
  • $200,000 or more
    1.68%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Fort Meade is $23,919.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Fort Meade by the total population of Fort Meade.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Fort Meade, Florida, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Fort Meade to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    8.06%
  • Bachelor's degree
    12.26%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    7.97%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    67.11%
  • Less than high school diploma
    4.60%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Fort Meade that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Fort Meade over the age of 16 is 4,138.

Of those people, a total of 47.20% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Fort Meade is 42.60%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 218 22.90% 26.00%
20 to 24 years 147 79.60% 35.00%
25 to 29 years 397 83.60% 5.40%
30 to 34 years 389 82.30% 8.10%
35 to 44 years 493 71.60% 17.30%
45 to 54 years 600 67.30% 4.70%
55 to 59 years 262 53.10% 3.60%
60 to 64 years 212 66.00% 1.40%
65 to 74 years 553 13.00% 8.30%
75 years and over 867 3.20% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Fort Meade. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 2,899 41.10% 7.30%
Black or African American 825 64.40% 16.60%
American Indian and Alaska Native 17 52.90% 0.00%
Asian 3 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 285 66.70% 7.90%
Two or more races 109 31.20% 2.90%
Hispanic or Latino 1,001 66.00% 8.30%
Not Hispanic or Latino 2,306 33.80% 6.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Fort Meade as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Fort Meade is 1,764, with median earnings of $32,500.00.

Women in Fort Meade, Florida earning approximately 89.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,764 $32,500.00
Male 1,061 $35,464.00
Female 703 $31,898.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 125 $67,891.00
Business and Financial 50 $37,368.00
Computer and Mathematical 12 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 8 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 4 $0.00
Community and Social Service 17 $0.00
Legal 22 $0.00
Educational and Library 100 $30,000.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 84 $44,348.00
Healthcare Support 28 $30,441.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 4 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 71 $14,743.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 104 $20,781.00
Personal Care and Service 101 $23,125.00
Sales 153 $39,583.00
Office and Administrative Support 199 $31,005.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 44 $18,452.00
Construction and Extraction 215 $35,903.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 125 $19,798.00
Production 86 $55,385.00
Transportation and Material Moving 106 $29,559.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 107 $69,297.00 18 $0.00
Business and Financial 6 $0.00 44 $36,974.00
Computer and Mathematical 0 $0.00 12 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 8 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00 4 $0.00
Community and Social Service 0 $0.00 17 $0.00
Legal 0 $0.00 22 $0.00
Educational and Library 54 $13,784.00 46 $46,618.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 28 $0.00 56 $42,826.00
Healthcare Support 7 $0.00 21 $0.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 3 $0.00 1 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 0 $0.00 71 $14,743.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 67 $30,417.00 37 $20,547.00
Personal Care and Service 71 $28,603.00 30 $0.00
Sales 71 $39,659.00 82 $39,500.00
Office and Administrative Support 0 $0.00 199 $31,005.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 23 $0.00 21 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 215 $35,903.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 125 $19,798.00 0 $0.00
Production 86 $55,385.00 0 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 106 $29,559.00 0 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 1,967 households in Fort Meade, with an average household size of 2.6 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 1,202 families in Fort Meade with an average family size of 3.46 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 943 40 219 765
Average Household Size 3.43 3.75 3.84 1.15
Total Families 943 40 219 0
Average Household Size 3.42 2.88 3.72 0

Poverty

Of the 1,202 families in Fort Meade, 17.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Fort Meade:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 2,594 housing units in Fort Meade, Florida.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 1,967 75.83%
Vacant 627 24.17%

15.88% of the total 2,594 housing units in Fort Meade are rental units. This is approximately 412 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 1,508 are occupied by the owner - or 58.13% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Fort Meade is $814.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Fort Meade that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    47
  • Less than $500
    85
  • $500 to $999
    274
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    48
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    5
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Fort Meade is $117,400.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Fort Meade that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    264
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    352
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    385
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    224
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    182
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    54
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    41
  • $1,000,000 or more
    6

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Fort Meade. The chart below shows the number of properties in Fort Meade that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    297
  • 1940 to 1949
    128
  • 1950 to 1959
    276
  • 1960 to 1969
    360
  • 1970 to 1979
    389
  • 1980 to 1989
    305
  • 1990 to 1999
    497
  • 2000 to 2009
    286
  • 2010 to 2013
    56
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Fort Meade that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    194
  • 1 vehicle available
    748
  • 2 vehicles available
    677
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    348

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Fort Meade get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Fort Meade that commute to work in a particular way.

34.5 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Fort Meade.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    85
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    199
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    183
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    201
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    257
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    85
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    160
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    55
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    44
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    206
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    45
  • 90 or more minutes
    164

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Fort Meade, Florida in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.