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METRO AREA

Lakeland Metro

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 1 counties · 874,790 residents (2025 est.) · 1,798.119 sq mi
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#30Fastest growingof 918+20.4%
The short version

Lakeland has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,978. The metro area has grown rapidly, with population up 63% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $266,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 110%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
790,694
+63%since 2000
from 483,924 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
440 / sq mi
+63%since 2000
from 269 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+2%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:874,790 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
367K482K598K714K829K1990201020202024Lakeland
2024791K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,978
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,036 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,249
+82%since 2000
from $18,302 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.8%
+20.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+3%since 2010
from 0.432 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration4.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$266,500
+110%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,363
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $501 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 73.4% in 2000
29.5% rent
Vacancy rate
15.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.8%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+109%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lakeland on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.7%(361,366)
Black13.3%(64,544)
Hispanic / Latino9.5%(45,933)
Asian0.9%(4,448)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.6%(239,911)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic50.8%(401,528)
Black14.1%(111,326)
Hispanic / Latino29.2%(230,841)
Asian1.8%(14,071)
Other4.2%(32,928)
Diversity Score79.4%(627,627)
Segregation Score31%(245,247)
Diversity Score
79
+60%since 2000
from 50 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
31
−2%since 2020
from 32 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.5%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.9%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.5 min
+78%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.0%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.4%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 57.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.9%
−26.4 ptssince 2009
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
12.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−41.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.4%
−69.0 ptssince 2013
from 81.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.7%
+25.9 ptssince 2017
from 64.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
72.2%
−7.8 ptssince 2016
from 80.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
23.1%
+7.1 ptssince 2016
from 16.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

LakelandCENTRAL125,520Winter HavenCENTRAL62,313
What's inside

1 component county

Polk CountyCENTRAL874,790
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Lakeland

Columbia
Pop 879,918
Greensboro
Pop 805,945
Baton Rouge
Pop 888,699
Little Rock
Pop 777,607
Places similar to Lakeland
Head to head

Compare Lakeland side by side

LAKELAND VS
Columbia
Income$68,275+3%
Home value$232,186−13%
Population879,918+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKELAND VS
Greensboro
Income$65,866same
Home value$237,517−11%
Population805,945−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKELAND VS
Baton Rouge
Income$70,666+7%
Home value$240,565−10%
Population888,699+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKELAND VS
Little Rock
Income$67,436+2%
Home value$214,329−20%
Population777,607−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL has about 790,694 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?

The typical household in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL earns about $65,978 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL expensive?

In Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, the median home is worth about $266,500, and the typical rent is about $1,363 a month.

How educated are people in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?

About 23.5% of adults age 25 and over in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?

About 14.5% of people in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL grown since 1990?

Yes, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 385,312 residents, a change of about 95 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →