Report: Collier ranked worst county in Florida to raise a family

A study from FloridaRentals.com purporting to reveal the best counties in Florida to raise a family revealed a big gap in first to worst across the state — geographically and figuratively. The report will likely also sting many economic development personnel — and parents — in Naples. 

In the top spot was Okaloosa County in the far western part of the Panhandle, on the state line with Alabama. Cities in the county include Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Crestview, and the median income, according to U.S. Census data, was $73,988 in 2022.

Some 600 miles east and south of Okaloosa County lies Collier County — the home to Naples and the bottom-ranked county on the list. The median income is $82,011, and, notably, both the county and city of Naples show up regularly in national and global best of lists, including places to live, retire and vacation. 

But not according to FloridaRentals.com, a vacation rental marketplace. The company says it created its best places to raise a family index by analyzing 11 factors, including: cost of living, number of schools, crime, diet data, childcare costs, employment rate, size of households with children 18 and under, and educational attainment. All 67 Florida counties were analyzed. The report didn't break down the specific data for each category.

The counties were ranked to determine which ones are the best for raising a family, FloridaRentals.com officials say. Data used came from sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.

No county in the region made the top 10. The highest ranking county was Hillsborough, at No. 16. Polk was not far behind at 25.

One explanation for Collier's basement ranking could be cost of living. The county, while home to multiple houses worth more than $10 million, has been grappling with an acute shortage of affordable housing that has priced out many blue-collar workers, teachers, first responders and others. Both city of Naples and county officials, in addition to nonprofits, and businesses, have been addressing the challenges.