The Town FilesLake Wales, Florida
City in Polk County · population 16,361 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,300
- Household income
- $56,347
- Jan low / Jul high
- 50° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 42.7
Lake Wales is a city of 16,361 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $239,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Florida towns, hipper than 78% of Florida towns.
How Lake Wales 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 Wales is worth $239,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $56,347, which is more affordable than 61% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,110 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Wales | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,110 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $56,347 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Lake Wales
| People | Lake Wales | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lake Wales
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 50.0°F. About 52.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 128 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 4 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wales since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 24, 2012 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 30, 1996.
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 Wales itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Lake Wales
10 public schools with 6,329 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 1,599 | 22.2 |
| EDWARD W BOK ACADEMY NORTH (charter) | 6-8 | 670 | 20.9 |
| MCLAUGHLIN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE | 6-10 | 666 | 20.2 |
| HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (charter) | PK-5 | 665 | 14.5 |
| BOK ACADEMY (charter) | 6-8 | 627 | 20.9 |
| SPOOK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 547 | 16.1 |
| POLK AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (charter) | PK-5 | 534 | 17.2 |
| JANIE HOWARD WILSON SCHOOL (charter) | PK-5 | 430 | 13.0 |
| VICTORY RIDGE ACADEMY (charter) | PK-12 | 314 | 19.6 |
| ROOSEVELT ACADEMY | 6-12 | 277 | 13.2 |
Towns near Lake Wales
- Dundee, FL6.5 mi · 5,235 people · home $247,800
- Alturas, FL7.4 mi · 4,084 people · home $165,800
- Cypress Gardens, FL8.0 mi · 10,169 people · home $287,100
- Wahneta, FL8.3 mi · 4,409 people · home $97,500
- Eagle Lake, FL10.2 mi · 3,008 people · home $256,300
- Winter Haven, FL11.9 mi · 49,219 people · home $269,800
- Frostproof, FL12.7 mi · 2,877 people · home $150,500
- Inwood, FL13.1 mi · 7,031 people · home $142,300
Lake Wales questions
Is Lake Wales, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Wales scores better for retirees than 47% of Florida towns and quieter than 42%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Lake Wales?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Wales is valued at $239,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,347, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,110 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Wales?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 50.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Wales get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wales since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 24, 2012. 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)