Demographic Voter Makeup: Florida

*Editor’s note: This is part one in a series that will break down the demographic statistics of voters in all six of FPP’S designated swing states plus the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Later today Minnesota

After the circus that was the 2000 election, Florida will forever be known as the most famous battleground state in presidential politics. This year the outcome will depend on how heavily Hispanic voters turnout in favor of the President. The question becomes will Mitt Romney be able to chip into the Hispanic voter base and overcome Paul Ryan’s proposals to end Medicare as we know it in a state full of seniors, or will president Obama retain a state that is trending heavily towards conservatives? Romney’s strength will be in the northern most parts of Florida and in the panhandle while President Obama will do well in the south and around the Miami area. Aside from the breakdown of Hispanic voters whoever wins the I-4 corridor most likely wins the sunshine state and its 29 electoral votes.

Population

Population: 18,801,310
State rank: 4th
Change since 2000 census: up 17.6%
Most populated cities
Jacksonville 821,784
Miami 399,457
Tampa 335,709
St. Petersburg 244,769
Household Income
Under $15K: 13.1%
$15K-$50K: 39.7%
$50K-$100K: 30.2%
$100K-$200K: 13.5%
Over $200K: 3.5%
Median Income: $47,051

Read more after the jump



Home Value
Under $100K: 16.8%
$100K-$300K: 54.0%
Over $300K: 29.2%
Median Value: $210,800
Education
H.S. grad: 85.2%
College grad: 25.7%
Grad degree: 9.0%
Military Veterans
% of Pop: 11.5%
Ethnicity
White: 57.9%
Black: 15.2%
Hispanic: 22.5%
Asian: 2.4%
Native Am.: 0.3%
Age
Median age: 39.9 years
Over 65: 17.0%
Under 18: 22.1%
State Legislature
Senate: 12D 28R
House: 39D 81R 1V
Work
Private: 80.3%
Government: 13.6%
Self-employed: 6.0%
Unemployment (Sept 2012): 8.7%
Registered Voters in 2010
Democrats: 4,631,068
Republicans: 4,039,259
Independents/Other: 2,547,057