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As we enter 2026, the landscape for women in the United States continues to evolve, yet significant challenges remain. From wage disparities to underrepresentation in management and healthcare access, women still face hurdles that their male counterparts often do not. In this article, we delve into Florida’s cities to assess where women encounter the most difficulties.
Having previously identified the worst states for women, we now focus on Florida to reveal the cities where women experience the greatest challenges.
Our findings underscore the importance of location in shaping women’s experiences and opportunities.
Continue reading to discover which cities ranked the lowest for women in Florida and the methodology behind our findings.
The 10 Worst Cities To Be A Woman In Florida
These are the ten cities in Florida where women face the most significant challenges. For further insights, continue reading to understand the factors contributing to this ranking, or jump to the end for a look at the best cities for women in Florida.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In Florida
Each city was ranked based on four key categories:
- Percentage of Women in Management (Lower is worse)
- Percentage of Women in Poverty (Higher is worse)
- Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings (Lower is worse)
- Percentage of Uninsured Women (Lower is worse)
To calculate the income gap between women and men by city, we utilized the Census’ American Community Survey. By dividing the median male income by the median female income, we determined how much women earned per male dollar earned.
For the percentage of women living in poverty, we also referenced the ACS data. The poverty rate was calculated based on household income, which includes husbands and other family members. To focus solely on women, we examined women living without relatives, which typically skews the poverty rate higher as this demographic tends to be younger and earn less.
We reviewed the percentage of women in management roles using ACS data to gauge women’s representation in leadership positions. Women are more likely to mentor and promote other women, making this metric vital for assessing opportunities for career advancement.
Lastly, the ACS provided data on the percentage of uninsured women in each city.
We focused on cities in Florida with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Tice
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.67
Percentage of Women in Management: 17.6%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 39.7%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 40.7%
Tice ranks as the worst city for women in Florida, with low scores across all metrics. Women in Tice face a troubling likelihood of living in poverty and lacking health insurance. Combined with other unfavorable statistics, it’s clear that Tice women are facing considerable challenges.
2. Naranja
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.66
Percentage of Women in Management: 6.1%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 32.4%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 18.6%
Naranja holds the second-worst position for women, characterized by high poverty rates and generally poor statistics across essential metrics.
3. Haines City
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.66
Percentage of Women in Management: 24.1%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 27.5%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 18.8%
Women in Haines City face significant challenges, with only 24.1% in management roles and a poverty rate of 27.5%. These figures highlight the ongoing struggles for women in this area.
4. Wimauma
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.79
Percentage of Women in Management: 17.5%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 29.5%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 25.9%
Wimauma ranks fourth on our list, with 25.9% of women lacking health insurance and nearly 30% living in poverty.
5. Port LaBelle
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.60
Percentage of Women in Management: 10.3%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 12.7%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 23.6%
Port LaBelle is the fifth-worst city for women. Although conditions may be slightly better than the previous four cities, women still face significant challenges.
6. Mascotte
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.69
Percentage of Women in Management: 35.1%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 27.3%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 18.8%
Mascotte ranks sixth, with a notable 35.1% of women in management, yet still faces high poverty rates among women.
7. Westview
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.76
Percentage of Women in Management: 9.0%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 25.6%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 17.7%
Westview presents a challenging environment for women, characterized by high poverty rates and limited opportunities for advancement.
8. Palatka
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.73
Percentage of Women in Management: 30.8%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 41.3%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 15.5%
Palatka shows a concerning 41.3% of women living in poverty, coupled with lower earnings compared to their male counterparts.
9. Kathleen
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.66
Percentage of Women in Management: 14.5%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 25.4%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 11.8%
Kathleen women face significant obstacles, with only $0.66 earned per male dollar and substantial poverty rates among single women.
10. Cocoa West
Women’s Earnings Compared to Male Earnings: $0.84
Percentage of Women in Management: 13.4%
Percentage of Women in Poverty: 40.7%
Percentage of Uninsured Women: 19.0%
Cocoa West ranks tenth, presenting a somewhat better scenario than the previous cities, yet still experiencing high poverty rates.
Summary on the Worst Cities to Be A Woman In Florida
The cities listed above represent the most challenging environments for women in Florida. While women across the state encounter numerous barriers, these locations present particularly difficult prospects.
Despite few cities in our study showing women earning equal to or more than men, the disparity between the top and bottom rankings is striking.
While we cannot definitively label Tice as the worst city for every individual woman, it is evident that women living there face unique and significant challenges.
For a comprehensive overview, explore the detailed list below.
Detailed List of the Worst Cities for Women in Florida
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tice | $0.67 |
| 2 | Naranja | $0.66 |
| 3 | Haines City | $0.66 |
| 4 | Wimauma | $0.79 |
| 5 | Port LaBelle | $0.60 |
| 6 | Mascotte | $0.69 |
| 7 | Westview | $0.76 |
| 8 | Palatka | $0.73 |
| 9 | Kathleen | $0.66 |
| 10 | Cocoa West | $0.84 |
| 11 | Inwood | $0.76 |
| 12 | Jan Phyl Village | $0.74 |
| 13 | Zephyrhills South | $0.66 |
| 14 | Hallandale Beach | $0.76 |
| 15 | River Park | $0.86 |
| 16 | Groveland | $0.56 |
| 17 | Quincy | $0.65 |
| 18 | Belle Glade | $0.77 |
| 19 | Upper Grand Lagoon | $0.66 |
| 20 | Ojus | $0.65 |
| 21 | Lakewood Park | $0.63 |
| 22 | Crystal Lake | $0.73 |
| 23 | Immokalee | $0.78 |
| 24 | Bayonet Point | $0.68 |
| 25 | Broadview Park | $1.04 |
| 26 | Homestead | $0.84 |
| 27 | Miami | $0.79 |
| 28 | Miami Beach | $0.70 |
| 29 | Leesburg | $0.70 |
| 30 | Lake Alfred | $0.67 |
| 31 | Egypt Lake-Leto | $0.78 |
| 32 | Pahokee | $0.92 |
| 33 | Perry | $0.60 |
| 34 | Leisure City | $0.72 |
| 35 | Starke | $0.77 |
| 36 | Clewiston | $0.67 |
| 37 | Pompano Beach | $0.75 |
| 38 | Milton | $0.57 |
| 39 | Mount Dora | $0.55 |
| 40 | Middleburg | $0.60 |
| 41 | Hialeah | $0.76 |
| 42 | Dania Beach | $0.84 |
| 43 | Inverness | $0.42 |
| 44 | Azalea Park | $0.71 |
| 45 | Palm River-Clair Mel | $0.77 |
| 46 | Fort Lauderdale | $0.74 |
| 47 | Gibsonton | $0.68 |
| 48 | Indiantown | $0.66 |
| 49 | South Miami Heights | $0.81 |
| 50 | Vero Beach | $0.69 |
| 51 | Naples Park | $0.72 |
| 52 | Macclenny | $0.79 |
| 53 | Holiday | $0.86 |
| 54 | Lealman | $0.75 |
| 55 | Lauderdale Lakes | $0.88 |
| 56 | Mims | $0.65 |
| 57 | Hialeah Gardens | $0.74 |
| 58 | Sarasota | $0.82 |
| 59 | Golden Gate | $0.66 |
| 60 | Dade City | $0.72 |
| 61 | Lockhart | $0.69 |
| 62 | Eustis | $0.72 |
| 63 | Lake Worth | $0.88 |
| 64 | University Orange | $0.79 |
| 65 | Defuniak Springs | $0.79 |
| 66 | Beverly Hills | $0.80 |
| 67 | Gladeview | $0.86 |
| 68 | Town N’ Country | $0.76 |
| 69 | Silver Springs Shores | $0.68 |
| 70 | Bayshore Gardens | $0.85 |
| 71 | Fort Meade | $0.87 |
| 72 | Shady Hills | $0.65 |
| 73 | Sweetwater | $0.71 |
| 74 | Sunny Isles Beach | $0.71 |
| 75 | Lantana | $0.98 |
| 76 | Ensley | $0.80 |
| 77 | Indian Harbour Beach | $0.51 |
| 78 | Deerfield Beach | $0.81 |
| 79 | Brownsville | $0.79 |
| 80 | Kendall West | $0.81 |
| 81 | Crestview | $0.64 |
| 82 | Lehigh Acres | $0.74 |
| 83 | Homosassa Springs | $0.82 |
| 84 | Sebring | $1.15 |
| 85 | Pasadena Hills | $0.59 |
| 86 | Medulla | $0.72 |
| 87 | Florida City | $0.79 |
| 88 | Lake City | $0.75 |
| 89 | Wright | $0.69 |
| 90 | Doral | $0.69 |
| 91 | Merritt Island | $0.60 |
| 92 | South Bradenton | $0.77 |
| 93 | Tampa | $0.76 |
| 94 | North Miami | $0.86 |
| 95 | Marianna | $0.61 |
| 96 | Southchase | $0.73 |
| 97 | Horizon West | $0.59 |
| 98 | Fort Walton Beach | $0.83 |
| 99 | Fort Pierce North | $0.77 |
| 100 | Casselberry | $0.70 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
