The Town FilesLakeland, Tennessee
City in Shelby County · population 13,904 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $388,900
- Household income
- $116,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 41.0
Lakeland is a city of 13,904 people in Shelby County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $388,900, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more upscale than 96% of Tennessee towns, better for families than 93% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Tennessee towns.
How Lakeland ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lakeland is worth $388,900, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $116,250, which is more affordable than 68% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,755 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakeland | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $388,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,755 | $863 |
| Median household income | $116,250 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Lakeland
| People | Lakeland | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 88.2% |
Weather in Lakeland
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 29.9°F. About 57.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 27, 1994 about 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on June 16, 2011.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 4, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4735: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 482,470 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,518 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Lakeland itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Lakeland
2 public schools with 2,339 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland Preparatory School | 5-10 | 1,305 | 16.3 |
| Lakeland Elementary School | PK-4 | 1,034 | 14.6 |
Towns near Lakeland
- Arlington, TN3.7 mi · 14,549 people · home $424,400
- Bartlett, TN5.7 mi · 57,786 people · home $310,400
- Oakland, TN10.8 mi · 8,936 people · home $319,100
- Millington, TN11.0 mi · 10,582 people · home $207,300
- Atoka, TN11.8 mi · 10,008 people · home $320,700
- Germantown, TN12.9 mi · 41,333 people · home $470,800
- Munford, TN13.5 mi · 6,302 people · home $244,400
- Collierville, TN14.9 mi · 51,324 people · home $485,900
Lakeland questions
Is Lakeland, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakeland scores better for retirees than 74% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 20%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Lakeland?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakeland is valued at $388,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,250, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,755 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakeland?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 29.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Lakeland get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 27, 1994. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)