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City Housing Verdict

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL

High Pressure

Living in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL costs about 40% more than the national average (Cost Index: 140). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $626,100 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $81,020, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 27% rent burden, 7.7x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 206. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

Monthly Housing
$1,816/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
27%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,436/mo
After housing and debt · $1,479/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 34%
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Cost Index
140
Very Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$626,100
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$81,020
National: $78,538
Population
6,159
Purchasing Power
74
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
206 / 100
~2.1x more expensive
Rent Index
135 / 100
35% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
140
Very Expensive · 40% above average

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $626,100 and Florida's property tax rate of 0.86%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$81,020
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
27%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
7.7x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Lauderdale-by-the-Sea looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL

Est. Annual Property Tax
$5,384
Monthly Impact
$449
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.86%
National avg: ~1.00%

Florida Place Tax Context

Tax TypeFloridaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.86%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.01%~5.0%

Compare Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL
140
135
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL: 206
Rent Prices
135

FAQ: Living in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Is Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is about 40% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 140. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $626,100, and monthly rents average roughly $1,816. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Lauderdale-by-the-Sea fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,816, while local median household income is $81,020. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 27% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?+

Florida is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 0.86%. On a home worth $626,100, that translates to roughly $5,384 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.01% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?+

The typical monthly rent in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is around $1,816. That's about 35% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $626,100, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?+

The median home in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is valued at $626,100. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $3,166/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 77% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?+

Grocery prices in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL like to live in?+

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a small town with a population of about 6,159. The median age of residents is 62.2, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 6.75%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Florida

If Lauderdale-by-the-Sea feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Florida

Use these city pages when you want to compare Lauderdale-by-the-Sea against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly