Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Florida

Best Places to Live in Florida

Every Florida county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Jefferson County leads at 80/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Florida ranks #19 for homesteading and #22 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Florida

    How Florida treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 67 Florida counties, ranked

    1. 1Jefferson County80
    2. 2Dixie County78
    3. 3Levy County76
    4. 4Baker County75
    5. 5Jackson County75
    6. 6Calhoun County74
    7. 7Franklin County74
    8. 8Hamilton County73
    9. 9Holmes County73
    10. 10Okaloosa County72
    11. 11Lafayette County72
    12. 12Madison County72
    13. 13Gulf County71
    14. 14Gadsden County71
    15. 15Taylor County71
    16. 16Santa Rosa County70
    17. 17Liberty County70
    18. 18Nassau County70
    19. 19Suwannee County69
    20. 20Bay County68
    21. 21Washington County68
    22. 22Gilchrist County68
    23. 23Walton County67
    24. 24Wakulla County67
    25. 25Escambia County66
    26. 26Okeechobee County66
    27. 27Leon County65
    28. 28Columbia County65
    29. 29DeSoto County64
    30. 30Putnam County64
    31. 31Union County63
    32. 32Hendry County62
    33. 33Manatee County62
    34. 34Highlands County62
    35. 35Clay County62
    36. 36Alachua County62
    37. 37Bradford County62
    38. 38Osceola County61
    39. 39Glades County61
    40. 40Hardee County57
    41. 41Charlotte County56
    42. 42Citrus County55
    43. 43Hernando County54
    44. 44Polk County54
    45. 45Duval County53
    46. 46St. Johns County53
    47. 47Marion County53
    48. 48Martin County53
    49. 49Monroe County52
    50. 50Lee County52
    51. 51Flagler County52
    52. 52Sumter County50
    53. 53Lake County48
    54. 54Volusia County48
    55. 55Indian River County46
    56. 56Sarasota County46
    57. 57Pasco County45
    58. 58Brevard County45
    59. 59St. Lucie County45
    60. 60Seminole County44
    61. 61Orange County44
    62. 62Collier County43
    63. 63Hillsborough County40
    64. 64Pinellas County40
    65. 65Palm Beach County35
    66. 66Miami-Dade County35
    67. 67Broward County29

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