United States › Florida › Lake Wales CITY · 2010 ACS
Lake Wales Florida · 14,225 residents · 19.0 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 14,225 people, Lake Wales is a city in Florida. Growth has run 40% since 2000, or 4,031 more people. The median age is 42.1, about 5 years above the US median. About 18% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 24.1%, above the 13.8% national rate. Households here earn about 24% less than in Florida as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 42.1
US median: 37.2
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 70%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K 11K 13K 15K 17K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lake Wales Age distribution, 2010
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $36,354
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,884 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $16,106 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 21.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Public administration 6.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.5%
Transportation & warehousing 2.7%
Education & health services 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.3%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$146,800
+70%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$661
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $398 in 2000
US average: $853
from 53.4% in 2000
41.6% rent
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 30.5% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 4.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 53.8%(5,484)
Hispanic / Latino 9.9%(1,014)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 55%(7,820)
Hispanic / Latino 15.6%(2,222)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 18.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 73.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 33.9%(2,135)
Women 15+
Never married 33.1%(2,549)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 17.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 46.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 27.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 22.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 61.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 44.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 9.5%(92)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.6%(142)
Share of the 972 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Lake Wales Head to head
Compare Lake Wales to nearby cities LAKE WALES VS
Cypress Gardens
Income $75,483 +108%
Home value $287,100 +96%
Population 10,077 −46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE WALES VS
Winter Haven
Income $59,648 +64%
Home value $269,800 +84%
Population 62,313 +234%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE WALES VS
Haines City
Income $65,975 +81%
Home value $288,900 +97%
Population 45,973 +147%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE WALES VS
Bartow
Income $68,178 +88%
Home value $234,100 +59%
Population 23,617 +27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Lake Wales, Florida? Lake Wales, Florida has about 14,225 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lake Wales, Florida? The typical household in Lake Wales, Florida earns about $36,354 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lake Wales, Florida expensive? In Lake Wales, Florida, the median home is worth about $146,800, and the typical rent is about $661 a month.
How educated are people in Lake Wales, Florida? About 17.6% of adults age 25 and over in Lake Wales, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lake Wales, Florida? About 24.1% of people in Lake Wales, Florida live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lake Wales, Florida grown since 1990? Yes, Lake Wales, Florida has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,555 residents, a change of about 47 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 