City Report · FL

Hobe Sound

Pop. 13,817·11th most expensive in Florida·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$4,494/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.8%

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

+$2,562

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Hobe Sound · $4,494

More expensive than 99% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

85% of income

EXPENSIVE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $4,494/mo, rent takes about 85% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$180,000/yr

Local median income

$63,484/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Hobe Sound's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Florida

Rent in Hobe Sound changed -0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 270 Florida cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($63,484) is $1,587 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,420); a 3-bedroom is $1,960.

Cheaper nearby

Tequesta, 5 miles away, rents for 14% less ($3,852/mo), about $7,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hobe Sound. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$53,928/yr

At $4,494/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.8% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.8% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Hobe Sound, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 29.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

13,817

Median income

$63,484

Median age

Renters

22.2%

Age distribution

15.1%

12.7%

19.3%

18.7%

34.2%

Under 1815.1%

18–3412.7%

35–5419.3%

55–6418.7%

65+34.2%

Gender

50.2%

49.8%

Male50.2%

Female49.8%

Race & ethnicity

78.3%

12.4%

White78.3%

Black9.4%

Hispanic12.4%

Education (25+)

25.1%

37.8%

29.8%

No HS diploma7.3%

HS diploma25.1%

Some college37.8%

Bachelor's+29.8%

Housing tenure

77.8%

22.2%

Owner77.8%

Renter22.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Hobe Sound, FL has changed in 5 years

Income

$56,598 → $63,484

up 12.2%

Population

13,964 → 13,817

down 1.1%

Renter share

20.8% → 22.2%

+1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

27.8% → 29.8%

+2.0 pts

Median age

56 → 57

+1.0 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Hobe Sound, FL now reports about $63,484, up from $56,598 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 13,964 to 13,817 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.1% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 27.8% to 29.8%.

Community

Discussions about Hobe Sound

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View Hobe Sound rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Hobe Sound on your salary?

At $4,494/mo, how Hobe Sound rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $87,866/yr · Rent = 61.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $62,384/yr · Rent = 86.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $71,861/yr · Rent = 75% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $128,442/yr · Rent = 42% income

rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $164,117/yr · Rent = 32.9% income

stretched

Firefighter

Avg $58,413/yr · Rent = 92.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $52,740/yr · Rent = 102.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $65,007/yr · Rent = 83% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Hobe Sound rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Hobe Sound. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Hobe Sound

About renting in Hobe Sound, FL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Hobe Sound is $4,494/mo as of October 2026.

At 85% of local median household income ($63,484/yr), Hobe Sound ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Hobe Sound?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $180,000/year (about $87/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,494/mo in Hobe Sound. The local median household income is $63,484/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Hobe Sound?

Rent in Hobe Sound has fallen 0.8% over the past year.

How does Hobe Sound rent compare to other cities in Florida?

Hobe Sound is one of the pricier among Florida cities for rent, ranking #11 of 289 tracked cities at $4,494/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Hobe Sound changed -0.8%, against a typical +1.8% across the 270 Florida cities Zillow tracks.