How Florida Counties Compare – A Fact Checker’s Handbook

PALM COAST, Fla – December 27, 2025 – How Do Florida Counties Compare? Of Florida’s 67 counties, Flagler ranks second in the per capita collection of County, Municipal, and School Impact Fees with a total of $315.78 per capita vs $112.45 per capita for the entire state. St Johns collects $227.18 per capita while Volusia collects $113.26. (measured in 2022-23). 20 counties have no impact fees. But that’s not the entire picture.

Florida TaxWatch, sponsored by the North Florida Land Trust, released its 2025 How Florida Counties Compare report this month. The report compares Florida’s counties across over 60 metrics, including spending, revenue, usage fees, property value, millage rate, employment, population, and more.

2025 How Florida Counties Compare

Florida TaxWatch, sponsored by the North Florida Land Trust, released its 2025 How Florida Counties Compare report this month. The report compares Florida’s counties across over 60 metrics, including spending, revenue, usage fees, property value, millage rate, employment, population, and more.

Florida’s counties, cities, school districts, and special tax districts collectively spend more money combined than the state government does, so this data is essential. Statewide, county expenditure growth vs. population and inflation growth (over the period FY 2012-13 to FY 2023-24) shows expenditures grew by 63.1%, exceeding population and inflation-adjusted growth of only 54.5%.

Total expenditures by municipalities exceeded population and inflation growth in 41 of Florida’s 67 counties.

Tax and spending levels vary across the state’s counties based on differences in population, density, household income, tourism, and real estate values. Not surprisingly, the variations in the adopted revenue mix are more puzzling as jurisdictions select different mixes of revenue sources.

How does Flagler County stack up on some key metrics?

Per Capita Total Property Tax Levies (2024)

• Flagler County $2,176.86
• Statewide $2,397.57

Per Capita County Government Property Tax Levies (2024)

• Flagler County $998.11
• Statewide $941.74

Per Capita Municipal Government Property Tax Levies (2024)

• Flagler cities $380.35
• Statewide cities $376.80

Per Capita School District Property Tax Levies (2024)

• Flagler County $734.63
• Statewide $933.39

Average Total Property Tax Millage Rate (2024)

• Flagler 17.2605
• Statewide 16.3624

Property Tax Growth vs Population and Inflation (2014-2024)

• Flagler County 119.5% tax growth vs 78.8% adjusted for population and inflation growth
• Statewide 108.1% tax growth vs 54.9% adjusted for population and inflation growth

Growth in Property Taxes for the 59 Largest Florida Cities (2014-2024)

• Palm Coast 152.9%
• Statewide 135.3%

Percent of Total Just Value that is Taxable

• Flagler County 56.4%
• Statewide 62%

Per Capita County and Municipal Charges for Services

• Flagler County $1,292.54
• Statewide $1,508.53

Per Capita Local Option Tourist Development Tax Revenue (FY2023-24)

• Flagler $41.14
• Statewide $89.60

Per Capita County, Municipal, and School Impact Fees (FY 2022-23)

• Flagler County $315.78
• Statewide $112.45 (20 counties reported no impact fees)

Per Capita Total County and Municipal Government Revenue (FY 2022-23)

• Flagler County $3,673.45
• Statewide $4,750.51

Population Density (2025 – Persons/Square Mile)

• Flagler County 290
• Florida 445

The list goes on. Not surprisingly, the cost of government is growing faster than population growth and inflation. To see the entire report, CLICK HERE to wow your friends and befuddle your social media critics with the facts.