The Town FilesLake Alfred, Florida
City in Polk County · population 6,374 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,900
- Household income
- $67,202
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 33.8
Lake Alfred is a city of 6,374 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $239,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Florida towns, hipper than 89% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 84% of Florida towns.
How Lake Alfred ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake Alfred is worth $239,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $67,202, which is more affordable than 80% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,349 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Alfred | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,349 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $67,202 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Lake Alfred
| People | Lake Alfred | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lake Alfred
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 51.9°F. About 46.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 121 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Alfred since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1966 about 2.8 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 517 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 10, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2022.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 260,590 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,697 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Lake Alfred itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Lake Alfred
5 public schools with 3,529 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISCOVERY ACADEMY OF LAKE ALFRED (charter) | 6-8 | 911 | 19.0 |
| LAKE ALFRED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 880 | 17.6 |
| DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 812 | 17.3 |
| LAKE ALFRED POLYTECH ACADEMY | 6-8 | 767 | 19.2 |
| KAREN M. SIEGEL ACADEMY | PK-12 | 159 | 6.9 |
Towns near Lake Alfred
- Auburndale, FL5.3 mi · 15,616 people · home $296,200
- Haines City, FL6.3 mi · 26,669 people · home $288,900
- Winter Haven, FL6.4 mi · 49,219 people · home $269,800
- Davenport, FL6.7 mi · 9,043 people · home $333,300
- Inwood, FL7.5 mi · 7,031 people · home $142,300
- Polk City, FL7.5 mi · 2,713 people · home $293,900
- Cypress Gardens, FL9.4 mi · 10,169 people · home $287,100
- Jan Phyl Village, FL9.6 mi · 5,927 people · home $258,600
Lake Alfred questions
Is Lake Alfred, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Alfred scores better for retirees than 61% of Florida towns and quieter than 57%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Lake Alfred?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Alfred is valued at $239,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,202, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,349 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Alfred?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 51.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Alfred get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Alfred since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 4, 1966. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)