Port LaBelle: Demographics & People
Port LaBelle's population stands at 7,923 people, in 2,755 households. Population grew 15.6% from 6,856 (2022) to 7,923 (2024). Median age 27.8 years. (8.0y younger than Hendry County; 14.8y younger than Florida). Children under 18 are 30% of the population. Population is 66% Hispanic or Latino and 26% White (non-Hispanic). The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.51). 75% of households are family-led. County is gaining 620 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.9 people per household (vs Florida avg 2.6).
- 25% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Florida 35%).
- 56 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Florida 69).
Population & Trend
Population grew 15.6% from 6,856 (2022) to 7,923 (2024) — about 25.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~9,203 (extrapolated at 7.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 11,102.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,126 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 15.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 6,856 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 7,923 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 7,923 people (vs Florida 58,838) |
| Population Estimate | 11,102 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 27.8y is 11.1 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 30% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 27.8 years (vs Florida 40.9y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 30.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 7,923 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 2,391 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 2,284.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,780.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 468 |
| Population under 18 | 2,391 |
| Median age | 27.8 years (vs Florida 40.9y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 7,923 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.51 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 4,130 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 69 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 4,277 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 50.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 50.5% |
| Black population | 6.0% (vs Florida 13.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 65.7% (vs Florida 23.4%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 26.1% (vs Florida 46.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 4.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 35% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,795 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,052 |
| Share born in this state | 47.9% |
| Share born in another state | 52.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 13.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 4.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 34.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 2,439 |
| From Europe | 21 |
| From Asia | 21 |
Households & Family Composition
2,755 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 75% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,707 families, 26% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,959 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,707 |
| Married couples with children | 439 |
| Single-parent households | 144 |
| Average household size | 2.72 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 82 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 82 |
| Family households | 2,060 households (vs Florida 15,074) |
| Households that are families | 74.8% (vs Florida 64.6%) |
| Total households | 2,755 households (vs Florida 22,144) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 8.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 620 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 9,536 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 8,916 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 620 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 226 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.9% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 18 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | FL-18 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 12043 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 12 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 043 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Glades |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 15.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 10.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 21.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 12043 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Glades County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 273 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 12043 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Glades County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 42.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 35.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 44.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 13,811 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 30.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 7,923, booming, young community, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 7,923 people (vs Florida 58,838) |
| Town Summary · County | Glades County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade