What it's like to live in Kissimmee
Kissimmee is a smaller city in Florida with air quality that stays clean most of the year and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kissimmee deals with rent well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Clean air
- Growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
How Kissimmee compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kissimmee
Based on Kissimmee's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,294
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,880 a year
- 67% of Kissimmee renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,880
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,440
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 17% above US
$1,647/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,647 a month median. That premium adds up quickly for renters whose income hasn't kept pace with local prices. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $304,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $304,400 · 67% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 36% above US
449 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1623/100k · Kissimmee Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 30% above US
34 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 50°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 26% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 12 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Canaveral National Seashore (52 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Kissimmee's strongest points are air quality that stays clean most of the year and a growing population; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,647/mo) equals 37% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Kissimmee
All Florida guides →Moving to Buenaventura Lakes →
4 mi away · pop. 32,682
Rent $1,806/mo · Income $68,887
Compare with Kissimmee →Moving to Hunters Creek →
4 mi away · pop. 22,819
Rent $2,088/mo · Income $99,195
Compare with Kissimmee →Moving to Meadow Woods →
5 mi away · pop. 42,852
Rent $1,906/mo · Income $82,744
Compare with Kissimmee →Moving to Southchase →
6 mi away · pop. 13,981
Rent $2,016/mo · Income $92,431
Compare with Kissimmee →Not sure Kissimmee is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.