More than one in four St. Johns County renter households are considered low-income and “cost burdened,” according to the 2025 Rental Market Study prepared by the University of Florida’s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies.
The report defines low-income households as those earning 60 percent or less of the area median income, and cost burdened households as those shelling out more than 40 percent of their income toward rent and utilities.
By that measure, St. Johns County has 6,777 renter households—27 percent of all renters in the county—classified as both low-income and cost burdened.
Accoring to the study, nearly four out of five low-income, cost burdened county renters live in one- or two-person households.
The findings extend beyond the lowest income levels. Locally, nearly one-third of renter households earning between 60 and 80 percent of the area median income are also cost burdened, paying more than 40 percent of their income on rent and utilities.
The report also documents broader rental trends across the state.
Between 2019 and 2023, Florida’s median gross rent increased from $1,238 to $1,719, a 39% rise in just four years.
During the same period, the state added more than 240,000 multifamily rental units, but most of the growth occurred in higher-rent apartments, while the supply of lower-rent units declined, the study found.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY RENTS PER APARTMENTS.COM
Annual rent growth: +4.1% year-over-year.
Typical rent ranges by unit type:
- Studio: ~$1,499
- One-bedroom: ~$1,567
- Two-bedroom: ~$1,929
- Three-bedroom: ~$2,223
