The Town FilesWillow Oak, Florida
Community in Polk County · population 6,806 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $276,300
- Household income
- $65,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 51° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 55
- Median age
- 29.1
Willow Oak is a community of 6,806 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $276,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Florida towns.
How Willow Oak 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 Willow Oak is worth $276,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $65,688, which is more affordable than 61% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,117 a month. 49.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willow Oak | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $276,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,117 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $65,688 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 49.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Willow Oak
| People | Willow Oak | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.1 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.2% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 35.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Willow Oak
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
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Oak since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2019 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 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 Willow Oak itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Willow Oak
- Fuller Heights, FL1.7 mi · 10,467 people · home $278,000
- Mulberry, FL2.5 mi · 3,952 people · home $133,800
- Medulla, FL3.6 mi · 10,871 people · home $319,800
- Lakeland Highlands, FL5.1 mi · 12,187 people · home $385,000
- Plant City, FL8.6 mi · 39,764 people · home $291,800
- Highland City, FL9.3 mi · 12,355 people · home $347,100
- Lakeland, FL10.2 mi · 112,641 people · home $249,400
- Crystal Lake, FL11.0 mi · 5,768 people · home $205,600
Willow Oak questions
Is Willow Oak, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willow Oak scores better for retirees than 9% of Florida towns and quieter than 24%. 6.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.1).
How much does a house cost in Willow Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in Willow Oak is valued at $276,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,688, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,117 a month.
What is the weather like in Willow Oak?
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 Willow Oak get tornadoes?
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Oak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2019. 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)