Holmes County

Holmes County is a small, largely rural county in Florida’s northwestern Panhandle, situated inland between the Choctawhatchee River basin to the west and the Apalachicola region to the east. Established in 1848 and named for Floridian statesman Andrew Jackson Holmes, it developed within a broader Panhandle tradition of agriculture, timber, and small-town settlement patterns. The county’s population is on the smaller end for Florida, numbering roughly 20,000 residents, with low population density compared with the state’s coastal metropolitan areas. Its landscape is characterized by rolling uplands, pine forests, creeks, and karst features associated with the region’s springs and cave systems. Economic activity has historically centered on farming, forestry, and related services, alongside a public-sector and local retail base. The county seat is Bonifay, which serves as the primary administrative and civic center.

Holmes County is a rural county in Florida’s Panhandle (Northwest Florida), inland from the Gulf Coast. County services and planning information are available via the Holmes County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov, Holmes County had a total population of 19,653 in the 2020 Decennial Census (Census Bureau geography: Holmes County, Florida).

Age & Gender

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides age and sex distributions for counties via data.census.gov (table family commonly reported as “Sex by Age”). The following county-level age and gender profile is reported through the ACS for Holmes County (Florida):

• Age distribution: Available in ACS “Sex by Age” tables on data.census.gov for Holmes County, Florida.
• Gender ratio (male/female): Available in ACS “Sex by Age” tables on data.census.gov for Holmes County, Florida.

Exact age-band percentages and the male-to-female ratio are published by the Census Bureau in the ACS tables for the county, but they are not reproduced here because ACS values vary by 1-year and 5-year releases and must be cited to a specific ACS vintage and table.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

County-level race and Hispanic/Latino origin data are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in the decennial census redistricting and demographic profiles and are accessible via data.census.gov for Holmes County, Florida (commonly from 2020 Census tables and profiles). Categories include:

• Race (alone or in combination, depending on table): White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or More Races
• Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino (of any race) and Not Hispanic or Latino

Household Data

Household characteristics and related measures are published by the U.S. Census Bureau through the ACS for Holmes County, Florida on data.census.gov (commonly including total households, average household size, family vs. nonfamily households, and household type). Specific household indicators are available in standard ACS tables for:

• Total households and household size
• Family households vs. nonfamily households
• Households with individuals under 18 and/or 65+

Housing Data

Housing stock and occupancy measures are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau for Holmes County, Florida via data.census.gov, including:

• Total housing units
• Occupancy status (occupied vs. vacant)
• Tenure (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied)
• Selected housing characteristics (e.g., structure type, year built, and housing value/rent measures in ACS tables)

For authoritative county totals and demographic tables, the primary references are the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal (Holmes County, Florida geography) and the Holmes County government website for local administrative context.

Holmes County, Florida is a largely rural county with low population density, which typically increases the per‑household cost of last‑mile networks and can constrain reliable home internet service, shaping how residents access email (often via mobile or public access points). Direct county-level email usage statistics are not published; broadband subscription and device access from the American Community Survey are commonly used proxies for likely email adoption.

Digital access indicators for Holmes County can be summarized using the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS), which reports household broadband subscriptions and computer ownership as key measures of digital readiness. Age distribution from the same source provides context: counties with larger shares of older adults generally show lower adoption of online services, including email, due to cohort differences in digital familiarity.

Gender distribution is available in ACS tables but is not consistently a primary driver of email adoption compared with age, education, and connectivity.

Connectivity constraints are reflected in federal broadband availability maps and rural buildout challenges; documented service footprints and technology availability can be reviewed via the FCC National Broadband Map. Local context on rural service conditions and infrastructure priorities is also reflected in Holmes County government resources.

County context and connectivity-relevant characteristics

Holmes County is in Florida’s Panhandle, roughly inland from the Gulf Coast between the Tallahassee and Pensacola regions. It is predominantly rural, with small towns (including Bonifay, the county seat) and extensive agricultural/forested land uses. Low population density and long distances between homes and cell sites are key factors shaping mobile network economics and coverage quality, particularly for high-capacity services (mid-band 5G) that require denser infrastructure. Terrain in the county is generally rolling rather than mountainous, but tree canopy and dispersed development can still reduce signal strength and indoor coverage.

County population, housing, and density figures used in telecommunications planning are available from the U.S. Census Bureau via Census QuickFacts (Holmes County, Florida).

Data limitations and definitions (availability vs. adoption)

• Network availability (coverage) refers to whether a mobile provider reports service in a location, and at what technology level (e.g., LTE/4G, 5G). Availability is typically provider-reported and may not reflect indoor reception, congestion, or performance.
• Household or individual adoption (usage) refers to whether residents actually subscribe to and use mobile service and mobile broadband, and whether they rely on mobile-only connectivity or also have fixed broadband.

County-level data on mobile adoption is more limited than coverage data. The most consistent public county-level adoption measure is “cellular data only” internet subscription status from the American Community Survey (ACS), which indicates households relying on cellular service rather than wired/fixed options.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (adoption where available)

Household internet subscription type (cellular-only indicator)

The U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS includes a measure for households with internet subscription using “cellular data plan” only (often used to approximate “mobile-only” households). This is an adoption indicator and does not measure signal quality or coverage.

• Primary source: data.census.gov (ACS tables on internet subscription)
  Relevant ACS topic/table families commonly include “Internet Subscription in the Past 12 Months” and related breakdowns by subscription type. County-level estimates are available but are subject to sampling error, especially in smaller rural counties.

Broadband adoption context (fixed vs mobile)

For context on overall broadband subscription and access challenges (which influence reliance on mobile-only), county-level indicators are also published by federal and state broadband programs:

• FCC broadband data and mapping: FCC National Broadband Map
  The map includes availability of fixed and mobile broadband but should be used with the distinction that availability does not equal subscription.
• Florida broadband policy and planning: Florida Commerce (Office of Broadband)

Limitation: Public sources do not provide a single, definitive “mobile penetration rate” (e.g., percentage of residents with a mobile subscription) at the county level in the same way they do nationally. County-level adoption is typically inferred from ACS household subscription types rather than carrier subscription counts.

Mobile internet usage patterns and network availability (4G and 5G)

4G LTE availability (network availability)

Across rural North Florida, LTE is generally the baseline technology for wide-area mobile coverage. LTE coverage in Holmes County varies by provider and location; performance is typically strongest near highways, towns, and existing towers.

• Coverage reporting and provider comparisons are accessible through the FCC National Broadband Map, which includes a mobile coverage layer. This reflects reported coverage and modeled signal strength categories rather than measured speeds at every point.

5G availability (network availability)

5G availability in rural counties commonly shows a split between:

• Low-band 5G: wider coverage footprint, often closer to LTE-like capacity characteristics.
• Mid-band 5G: higher capacity, usually concentrated in more populated corridors and areas with upgraded infrastructure.
• High-band/mmWave: typically limited to dense urban nodes; countywide rural availability is generally sparse.

For Holmes County, the most authoritative public reference for what providers report as 5G coverage is again the FCC National Broadband Map. Countywide availability patterns are best interpreted as coverage presence rather than uniform experience, since rural cell sectors may serve large geographic areas with variable indoor reach and congestion levels.

Measured performance (usage experience)

Public, county-specific measured mobile speed datasets are not consistently published as official statistics. Where available, third-party measurement platforms may provide regional approximations, but these are not official and can be biased toward where users run tests (often along roads or in towns). For official planning and eligibility decisions, Florida and federal programs generally rely on FCC mapping and related challenge processes.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Smartphones as the dominant access device

At the county level, publicly available datasets usually do not enumerate “smartphone share” directly. However, U.S. mobile internet access is overwhelmingly smartphone-driven, and ACS “cellular data plan” subscription is generally associated with smartphone-based connectivity and/or mobile hotspot plans.

• National-level device and internet-use framing is available through the American Community Survey (ACS) and related Census internet use documentation, but device-type granularity is more common in national surveys than in county tables.

Mobile hotspots and fixed wireless substitution

In rural areas with limited fixed broadband options, households may rely on:

• Smartphone tethering
• Dedicated mobile hotspots
• Cellular home internet products (where offered and where network capacity supports it)

Limitation: Public county-level reporting generally does not separate smartphone data use from hotspot/router-based cellular use. These uses are captured indirectly under cellular-based subscription categories rather than device inventories.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Rural settlement pattern and tower density

Holmes County’s dispersed housing and rural road network increase the distance between users and cell sites. This typically results in:

• Greater variability in indoor reception
• More frequent reliance on lower-frequency bands for coverage (better range, less capacity)
• More pronounced “coverage present but weak” areas between towns and along less-traveled roads

Income, age, and digital access considerations

County-level demographic factors associated with reliance on mobile-only connectivity include:

• Lower household income and higher cost sensitivity, which can correlate with substituting mobile-only for fixed service
• Older populations, which can correlate with lower broadband subscription rates overall

Authoritative county demographic profiles are available from Census QuickFacts and more detailed breakouts via data.census.gov. These demographic indicators support interpretation of adoption patterns but do not, by themselves, quantify mobile usage intensity.

Land cover and environmental factors

Forested areas and tree canopy can attenuate higher-frequency signals and reduce indoor coverage, particularly in areas farther from towers. Seasonal foliage can also affect signal propagation. These factors influence experienced connectivity more than reported availability.

Clear distinction summary: availability vs. adoption in Holmes County

• Network availability: Best documented through the FCC National Broadband Map, which provides reported LTE/5G coverage layers by provider and location. Availability should be interpreted as a coverage claim with modeled parameters, not guaranteed indoor service or consistent speeds.
• Household adoption/usage: Best approximated through ACS household internet subscription measures on data.census.gov, including the share of households using cellular data plans (including “cellular-only” subscriptions). These indicate reliance on mobile service for internet access but do not specify network generation (4G vs 5G) or device type.

For local planning context and coordination references, county government information is available via Holmes County, Florida (official website), while statewide broadband initiatives are documented through Florida Commerce (Office of Broadband).

Holmes County is a rural Panhandle county in northwest Florida, centered on Bonifay and shaped by small-town communities, agriculture, and proximity to larger regional hubs such as Panama City and Dothan, Alabama. Lower population density and an older-than-urban age profile typical of rural areas tend to align with lower social media adoption than statewide urban counties, while strong community ties often support high usage of local Facebook groups and messaging-oriented platforms.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• Local (Holmes County-specific) social media penetration: No routinely published, county-level “active social media user” estimates exist from major public datasets. County-level measurement is typically proprietary (platform ad tools) and not reported as official statistics.
• Benchmarking with reliable public data (U.S. and Florida context):
  • U.S. adults using social media: ~70% report using at least one social media site (Pew Research Center, 2023). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Rural vs. urban gap: Social media use is modestly lower in rural communities than urban/suburban areas in Pew’s reporting (same source above), a relevant benchmark for Holmes County’s rural profile.
• Interpretation for Holmes County: Given its rural characteristics, Holmes County is most consistent with the lower end of national adult-use benchmarks rather than large-metro Florida counties, while still reflecting broad mainstream adoption of at least one platform among adults.

Age group trends

Based on Pew’s U.S. adult survey patterns (used as the standard reference where local breakdowns are unavailable):

• Highest usage: 18–29 and 30–49 age groups show the highest overall social media adoption and heavier multi-platform behavior. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
• Middle usage: 50–64 shows high but lower adoption than under-50 groups, with stronger concentration on a smaller number of platforms (notably Facebook).
• Lowest usage: 65+ remains the least likely to use many platforms, though Facebook use is comparatively common versus other platforms in this age band.
• Holmes County implication: A relatively higher share of older adults compared with major Florida metros typically corresponds to more Facebook-centered usage and less TikTok/Snapchat penetration than youthful urban counties.

Gender breakdown

County-specific gender splits are not published as official statistics; nationally representative patterns from Pew indicate:

• Women are more likely than men to use certain platforms such as Pinterest and are slightly more likely to report using Facebook in many survey waves.
• Men are more likely to use some discussion- and video/game-adjacent spaces in other research, while major platforms like YouTube tend to be broadly used across genders. Source: Pew Research Center social media usage by platform and demographics.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

Percentages below are U.S. adult usage rates from Pew (2023), serving as the most reliable public benchmark for Holmes County in the absence of county-level reporting:

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• Pinterest: 35%
• TikTok: 33%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• WhatsApp: 29%
• Snapchat: 27%
• X (Twitter): 22% Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet (platform reach).

Holmes County usage is typically expected to skew toward:

• Higher relative reliance on Facebook (community groups, local announcements, buy/sell activity) compared with image-first or youth-skew platforms.
• Broad YouTube reach as a cross-age video utility platform.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

• Community information and local networks: Rural counties commonly show strong engagement with Facebook Pages and Groups for school activities, church/community events, local government updates, classifieds, and storm/weather updates—use cases aligned with Holmes County’s dispersed communities and regional weather risk.
• Video as a default format: Nationally high YouTube reach supports frequent use for how-to content, news clips, sports highlights, and entertainment across age groups (Pew platform reach above).
• Age-driven platform specialization:
  • Older adults: Concentrated engagement on Facebook and YouTube, with lower adoption of fast-changing social apps.
  • Younger adults: Higher likelihood of using Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, with heavier daily use and content creation behaviors (Pew demographics by platform).
• Messaging and private sharing: Pew reports substantial use of messaging-enabled platforms (e.g., Facebook-linked messaging and WhatsApp nationally), reflecting a broader shift toward private or small-group sharing rather than exclusively public posting. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Holmes County, Florida family and associate-related public records include statewide vital records and county court records. Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, with local intake and some services through the Florida Department of Health in Holmes County. Marriage licenses and divorce case files are handled through the county court system; filings and indexes are typically accessed via the Holmes County Clerk of Court. Adoption records are not generally open to the public and are maintained under court control with statutory confidentiality.

Public-facing databases in Holmes County commonly include court docket/case search tools and Official Records (recorded documents such as deeds and some liens) provided by the Clerk’s office; available portals and access instructions are published on the Clerk of Court website. Property ownership records are maintained by the county property appraiser and are typically searchable through the Holmes County Property Appraiser public search.

Access occurs online through these portals and in person at the Clerk’s office for certified copies and records not posted online. Privacy restrictions apply to many vital records (especially recent birth and death certificates) and to confidential court matters; Florida law also provides exemptions/redactions for certain protected information in public records.

Record types maintained in Holmes County, Florida

• Marriage licenses (and marriage records/certificates)

  • Marriage licenses are issued locally and become part of the county’s official records once returned and recorded after the ceremony.
  • Certified copies are commonly referred to as “marriage certificates” even though the county record originates from the recorded license.

• Divorce records

  • Divorce decrees / final judgments of dissolution of marriage are court judgments maintained in the Holmes County court case file.
  • Statewide divorce certificates (a summary record) are maintained by Florida’s state vital records office rather than the county court.

• Annulments

  • Annulments are handled through the court and appear as case filings and court orders/judgments within the circuit court records, similar to divorce case records.

Where records are filed and how they are accessed

• Marriage records

  • Filed/recorded with: Holmes County Clerk of Court (recording/official records function) after issuance and return for recording.
  • Access:
    • In-person requests through the Clerk of Court for certified copies.
    • Some indexing and document images may be available through the Clerk’s online official-records search system, subject to redaction rules and availability.
    • State access: Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics issues certified copies of Florida marriage records (statewide), particularly useful for records not easily retrieved locally.

• Divorce and annulment case records

  • Filed with: Holmes County Clerk of Court as clerk to the circuit court (divorce and annulment are circuit court matters in Florida).
  • Access:
    • Case dockets and documents are available through the Clerk’s court-records access (in-person; online access may be limited by local system capabilities and confidentiality rules).
    • State access (divorce): Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics issues a divorce certificate (a limited-content vital record) for eligible requestors; it is not a copy of the full court judgment.

Typical information contained in the records

• Marriage license / recorded marriage record

  • Full names of both parties (including maiden name where reported)
  • Date and place of marriage
  • Date the license was issued and the license number
  • Officiant name and authority; certification/return section completed after the ceremony
  • Commonly recorded demographic items may include ages/dates of birth and residences, depending on the form version and time period

• Divorce decree / final judgment (court record)

  • Case number; filing date; date of final judgment
  • Names of the parties and court/county of jurisdiction
  • Findings and orders on dissolution, including provisions commonly addressing:
    • Division of assets and debts
    • Alimony/spousal support (where ordered)
    • Parenting plan/time-sharing and child support (when applicable)
    • Restoration of a former name (when requested and granted)

• Annulment orders/judgments (court record)

  • Case number; parties’ names; date of order/judgment
  • Court determination regarding validity of the marriage and related relief ordered

• Florida “divorce certificate” (state vital record)

  • Names of former spouses
  • Date of divorce and county where granted
  • Certificate/file number (summary format; does not include detailed orders)

Privacy and legal restrictions

• Marriage records

  • Florida marriage records are generally treated as public records, but statutory confidentiality applies to certain sensitive information (for example, Social Security numbers and other protected identifiers), which must be redacted from publicly accessible images.
  • Certified copies are available through the Clerk and the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, with identity verification requirements applied by the issuing office.

• Divorce and annulment court records

  • Florida court files are generally accessible as public records, but confidentiality rules apply to protected information and protected case materials.
  • Protected information commonly includes Social Security numbers, certain financial account numbers, information made confidential by court order, and specific categories designated confidential under Florida law and Florida Rules of Judicial Administration (including required redaction for public access).
  • Some filings in family cases may be sealed or partially restricted by statute or court order; access may be limited to the parties, attorneys of record, and others with a legally recognized right of access.

• Certified copies vs. informational access

  • Viewing an index or docket entry is distinct from obtaining a certified copy; certification is issued by the custodian office (the Clerk for court and county records; the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics for state vital records) under applicable state rules and fee schedules.

Holmes County is a rural county in Florida’s Panhandle, located inland between the Panama City and Dothan (AL) regional labor markets. The county has a small population dispersed across unincorporated communities and small towns (Bonifay is the county seat), with community life organized around local schools, agriculture/forestry activity, public-sector employment, and commuting to nearby counties for higher-wage work.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Holmes County’s public schools are operated by the Holmes District School Board. Public campuses commonly listed for the district include:

• Bonifay K–8 School
• Poplar Springs School (K–12)
• Ponce de Leon School (K–12)
• Bethlehem School (K–12)
• Holmes County High School (Bonifay)

School listings and updates are maintained by the district and the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE): the district’s official directory is reflected through the Holmes District Schools site and FLDOE reporting portals (for example, the Florida Department of Education).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratio (district/county level): Publicly reported ratios for small rural Florida districts typically fall in the mid-teens (about 14:1 to 16:1) range; Holmes County’s ratio is generally reported within this band by commonly used education datasets. Exact current ratios vary by school and year and are best verified via FLDOE district profiles and annual accountability reports (FLDOE Accountability Reporting).
• Graduation rate: Holmes County’s on-time graduation rate is published annually by FLDOE (Federal 4-year cohort rate). Recent years for many Panhandle rural counties tend to fall in the mid‑80% to low‑90% range; the definitive current rate for Holmes County is contained in FLDOE’s graduation results (FLDOE PK‑12 Data Publications).

Data note: A precise student–teacher ratio and the most recent cohort graduation rate require the latest FLDOE release for the specific school year; secondary sources often lag the state’s current-year posting.

Adult educational attainment

From recent American Community Survey (ACS) county estimates, Holmes County’s adult attainment profile is characterized by high school completion as the dominant credential and lower bachelor’s attainment than Florida overall. Typical recent ACS patterns for Holmes County show:

• High school graduate (or higher): roughly mid‑80% of adults 25+
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: roughly low‑to‑mid teens (%) of adults 25+

The most current county-specific levels are published in the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS tables (see data.census.gov).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

• Career and technical education (CTE): Like many rural Panhandle districts, Holmes County schools typically offer CTE/vocational pathways aligned to regional employment (construction trades, agriculture-related skills, health-support pathways, and industry certifications). Program inventories and certifications are reported through district CTE information and FLDOE CTE reporting (FLDOE Career & Adult Education).
• Advanced coursework: Rural high schools in Florida commonly provide Advanced Placement (AP) and/or dual enrollment options (often coordinated with a regional state college). The availability and breadth of AP/dual enrollment can vary year to year by staffing and student demand; current offerings are best reflected in the district’s course catalog and school profile.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Florida public schools operate under state safety requirements that include campus safety planning, threat reporting protocols, visitor controls, and coordination with school resource or law enforcement functions; districts also report safety and mental-health staffing elements under state frameworks. Counseling and student support services are typically provided through school counselors, student services teams, and partnerships with regional providers. District-level safety plans and mental-health/service staffing are generally documented through district policy postings and state reporting structures (see FLDOE Safe Schools).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

Holmes County unemployment is tracked monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). Recent-year averages for Holmes County are typically higher than Florida’s statewide rate, reflecting a smaller labor market and fewer large employers. The most recent official county rate is available via BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Florida’s labor market portal (Florida LAUS / Labor Market Statistics).

Data note: Because unemployment is published monthly and annually, “most recent year” depends on the latest completed calendar year in the reporting series.

Major industries and employment sectors

Holmes County’s economy is typically anchored by:

• Public administration and education (school district, county services)
• Health care and social assistance (clinics, long-term care, support services)
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local-serving)
• Construction
• Agriculture/forestry and related services (including timber-related activity)
• Manufacturing (smaller footprint than urban counties; often light manufacturing/processing)

County sector composition is reported in ACS employment-by-industry tables and state labor market profiles (ACS industry tables; Florida labor market profiles).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational patterns in Holmes County generally show elevated shares in:

• Service occupations (food service, personal care, protective services)
• Sales and office
• Construction and extraction
• Transportation and material moving
• Education, training, and library (reflecting public schools)
• Healthcare support and healthcare practitioners (smaller but important)

These distributions are available in ACS occupation tables for Holmes County on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Commute mode: Rural Panhandle counties typically have very high drive-alone shares, limited fixed-route transit, and modest carpooling.
• Mean commute time: Holmes County’s mean commute time is generally around the mid-to-upper 20 minutes (with many commuters traveling to jobs in adjacent counties). The definitive mean travel time to work and mode split are in ACS commuting tables on data.census.gov.

Local employment vs out-of-county work

Holmes County functions as a commuter county to nearby job centers (notably Bay, Walton, Jackson, and Washington counties, plus cross-border commuting toward Alabama in some cases). A substantial portion of residents work outside the county, reflecting limited local job density. County-to-county commuting flows are measured by the U.S. Census Bureau’s LEHD/OnTheMap tools (OnTheMap commuting flows).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Holmes County’s housing profile is predominantly owner-occupied, typical of rural North Florida:

• Homeownership: commonly reported around ~75% to ~80%
• Renter-occupied: commonly reported around ~20% to ~25%

The most current tenure shares are in ACS housing tables for Holmes County (ACS housing tenure).

Median property values and recent trends

• Median home value: Holmes County’s median owner-occupied home value is generally well below Florida’s statewide median, reflecting rural land markets and a limited supply of higher-priced housing stock. Recent years have shown upward pressure on values consistent with statewide post‑2020 appreciation, though increases have generally been less steep than major metro areas.
• The county’s latest median value and trend context can be verified through ACS and housing market trackers (ACS on data.census.gov is the standard public benchmark).

Data note: Private listing platforms can show faster-moving prices than ACS; ACS is the consistent countywide statistical series.

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent: Holmes County median gross rent is typically lower than Florida overall, reflecting a smaller rental inventory and lower median incomes. Current medians are published in ACS rent tables (ACS gross rent).

Types of housing

Holmes County’s housing stock is characterized by:

• Single-family detached homes as the dominant type
• Manufactured/mobile homes at a relatively high share compared with urban Florida
• Limited multi-family apartments, concentrated near Bonifay and along key corridors
• Rural lots/acreage with agricultural or timberland surroundings and lower-density subdivisions

This composition is captured in ACS “units in structure” tables (ACS housing structure).

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

• Bonifay serves as the primary services hub (county offices, retail, healthcare access), with neighborhoods closer to town generally offering shorter drives to schools and daily amenities.
• Outside Bonifay, communities are more dispersed, with school campuses often acting as local centers (especially in K–12 communities), and amenities requiring longer drive times along state roads.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

• Property tax rate: Florida property taxes vary by taxing district and exemptions; rural Panhandle effective rates commonly fall near ~1.0% to ~1.5% of taxable value as a broad planning range.
• Typical homeowner tax bill: Countywide typical bills depend strongly on homestead status, assessed value caps, and local millage rates. Official millage rates and tax roll information are maintained by the county property appraiser and tax collector; the Florida Department of Revenue provides statewide property tax oversight and annual summaries (Florida DOR property tax oversight).

Data note: A precise “average homeowner cost” requires the most recent county tax roll summaries and exemption distribution; these are locally published rather than standardized in ACS.

Source grounding (primary public series used): U.S. Census Bureau ACS for education/commuting/housing; BLS LAUS and Florida labor market statistics for unemployment; FLDOE for district accountability, graduation, safety, and program reporting; Census LEHD/OnTheMap for commuting flows.