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BOOK 95 Ftt rE133 <br />County Comparisons <br />Commissioner Eggert commented that she is tired of hearing <br />that the only thing this county has to offer is the quality of life <br />and she wanted to see us put together a brochure on county <br />comparisons to show people why they should come to. Indian River <br />County: <br />COUNTY COMPARISON <br />For economic development purposes, it is advantageous to compare <br />Indian River County to other counties located close by. Since <br />these other counties constitute Indian River's competition for <br />economic development prospects, such comparison provides a means to <br />assess the competition. <br />The purpose of this report is to compare Indian River County with <br />other counties in the Space Coast and Treasure Coast area with <br />respect to factors affecting economic development in each of these <br />counties. Additional comparison information is included in the <br />county's recently completed Economic Base Study. <br />Population, income, and other economic development related <br />characteristics of Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, <br />Brevard, Oseola, and Polk counties are indicated on attached -Tables <br />I -VI. Only by considering these characteristics as a whole can an <br />accurate perspective of the county's relative position be provided. <br />• POPULATION <br />As indicated in Table I, Indian River County is the smallest county <br />in the region, and Palm Beach County is the largest. More than 98% <br />of the population growth in Indian River and Martin counties is due <br />to immigration, with the growth of these two counties primarily due <br />to a large influx of retirees. This is one reason why both Indian <br />River and Martin counties' percentage of the 65 years and older <br />population segment is increasing. In 1990, both counties had more <br />than 27% of their respective populations in the 65 years and older <br />category. For the most part, the 65 years and older population is <br />no longer in the workforce. A majority of these retirees, however, <br />are relatively affluent, providing an increased market demand for <br />goods and services. <br />0 INCOME AND LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION <br />Martin County has the highest per capita income in the region <br />followed by Palm Beach, Indian River, Brevard, St. Lucie, Polk, and <br />Osceola counties. Palm Beach County, however, has the highest <br />household and family median income followed by Martin, Brevard, <br />Indian River, St. Lucie, Osceola, and Polk counties. <br />Polk County has the highest percentage of people below the poverty <br />level, followed by St. Lucie, Osceola, Brevard, Palm Beach, Indian <br />River, and Martin counties. <br />Indian River and Martin counties have the -lowest labor force <br />participation percentage (about 51%), and Osceola County has the <br />highest percentage (about 66%). <br />24 <br />MAY 189 1995 <br />