The Town FilesLakeland, Florida
City in Polk County · population 112,641 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,400
- Household income
- $64,185
- Jan low / Jul high
- 51° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 61
- Median age
- 38.9
Lakeland is a city of 112,641 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $249,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more walkable than 77% of Florida towns, more vibrant than 77% of Florida towns, hipper than 76% of Florida towns.
How Lakeland 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 Lakeland is worth $249,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $64,185, which is more affordable than 70% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,395 a month. 56.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakeland | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,400 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,395 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $64,185 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 56.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Lakeland
| People | Lakeland | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lakeland
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 50.6°F. About 56.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 119 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
61 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1966 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 544 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 16, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 22, 1997.
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 Lakeland itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Lakeland
59 public schools with 38,434 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE W. JENKINS SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 2,517 | 22.5 |
| LAKELAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,057 | 19.8 |
| LAKE GIBSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,039 | 23.2 |
| KATHLEEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,951 | 23.0 |
| MCKEEL ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY (charter) | 7-12 | 1,722 | 22.4 |
| LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,260 | 19.4 |
| SOUTH MCKEEL ACADEMY (charter) | PK-6 | 1,199 | 18.4 |
| TENOROC HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,157 | 28.2 |
| LAKE GIBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,118 | 18.0 |
| SLEEPY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,087 | 22.6 |
| R. BRUCE WAGNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 954 | 15.6 |
| CRYSTAL LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 865 | 21.6 |
Towns near Lakeland
- Combee Settlement, FL3.1 mi · 5,911 people · home $195,900
- Crystal Lake, FL3.6 mi · 5,768 people · home $205,600
- Fussels Corner, FL5.7 mi · 5,560 people · home $92,100
- Lakeland Highlands, FL6.8 mi · 12,187 people · home $385,000
- Kathleen, FL6.8 mi · 6,486 people · home $203,500
- Medulla, FL6.9 mi · 10,871 people · home $319,800
- Highland City, FL7.9 mi · 12,355 people · home $347,100
- Fuller Heights, FL9.4 mi · 10,467 people · home $278,000
Lakeland questions
Is Lakeland, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakeland scores better for retirees than 34% of Florida towns and quieter than 24%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Lakeland?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakeland is valued at $249,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,185, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,395 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakeland?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 50.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lakeland get tornadoes?
61 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland 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)