United States › Florida › Lake Wales CITY · 2020 ACS
Lake Wales Florida · 16,361 residents · 19.0 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Lake Wales is home to 16,361 people in Florida. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 6,167 people. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The median age is 43.0, about 4 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $180,700, having more than doubled since 2000. That trails the Florida median by roughly 17%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 76%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K 11K 13K 15K 17K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lake Wales Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $48,145
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,884 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,106 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 21.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 7.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.7%
Public administration 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0.9%
Education & health services 0.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
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$180,700
+76%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$883
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $398 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 53.4% in 2000
41.5% rent
2.53 people
+10%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 47.4%(7,750)
Hispanic / Latino 23.9%(3,916)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 18.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 73.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 49.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
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 from 17.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 5.4%(87)
Gulf War (1990s) 12.5%(202)
Share of the 1,612 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Lake Wales, Florida? Lake Wales, Florida has about 16,361 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lake Wales, Florida? The typical household in Lake Wales, Florida earns about $48,145 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 $180,700, and the typical rent is about $883 a month.
How educated are people in Lake Wales, Florida? About 18.4% 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 15.5% 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 6,691 residents, a change of about 69 percent over that period.
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