Lake Wales, Florida
Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Lake Wales, compared with Florida and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.
Lake Wales city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 1238950 · Florida directory
- Population · July 1, 2025
- 18,650 PEP Vintage 2025
- Change · 2024 to 2025
- +4.9% +864 residents
- Household income
- $56,347 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$7,706
- Home value
- $239,300 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$12,723
- Monthly gross rent
- $1,110 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$79
- Median age
- 42.7 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±5.9
Lake Wales is an incorporated city in Polk County, Florida, part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metropolitan area. With 18,650 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 129th in Florida and 2,055th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 864 (4.9%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 16.1%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $1,110 a month, 33.5% below the Florida median. Median household income is $56,347, 24.4% below the Florida median.
Detailed demographics → Housing and cost-of-living context →
What stands out in Lake Wales?
Compared with other Florida places, Lake Wales is most distinctive for less remote and home-based work, faster population growth and a higher poverty rate. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.
- Workers who work from home: 8.7%, 7.0 percentage points below the Florida rate (15.7%); lower than 91% of 251 Florida places with reliable estimates.
- Population change since April 2020: +16.1%; higher than 85% of 404 Florida places with reliable estimates.
- Poverty rate: 22.4%, 9.9 percentage points above the Florida rate (12.6%); higher than 85% of 261 Florida places with reliable estimates.
- Households with a broadband subscription: 85.6%, 6.1 percentage points below the Florida rate (91.6%); lower than 82% of 396 Florida places with reliable estimates.
- Commutes of 45 minutes or longer: 11.4%, 6.7 percentage points below the Florida rate (18.1%); lower than 81% of 285 Florida places with reliable estimates.
How Lake Wales compares with Florida and the U.S.
| Measure | Lake Wales | Florida | U.S. | Position in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 | +16.1% | — | — | higher than 85% of 404 Florida places |
| Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 | 919 | — | — | lower than 66% of 410 Florida places |
| Median household income B19013 | $56,347 ±$7,706 | $74,568 | $80,734 | lower than 74% of 376 Florida places |
| Median home value B25077 | $239,300 ±$12,723 | $359,000 | $332,700 | lower than 72% of 374 Florida places |
| Median real estate taxes paid B25103 | $2,171 ±$293 | $2,730 | $3,119 | lower than 59% of 352 Florida places |
| Median gross rent B25064 | $1,110 ±$79 | $1,669 | $1,413 | lower than 73% of 356 Florida places |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 | 67.3% ±11.2 pp | 60.1% | 51.1% | higher than 74% of 279 Florida places |
| Homeownership rate B25003 | 59.2% ±3.6 pp | 67.6% | 65.2% | lower than 74% of 395 Florida places |
| Median age B01002 | 42.7 years ±5.9 | 42.6 years | 38.9 years | lower than 51% of 402 Florida places |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 | 20.8% ±3.3 pp | 34.1% | 35.7% | lower than 78% of 355 Florida places |
| Poverty rate B17001 | 22.4% ±4.3 pp | 12.6% | 12.5% | higher than 85% of 261 Florida places |
| People without health insurance B27010 | 8.6% ±2.7 pp | 11.5% | 8.4% | lower than 76% of 283 Florida places |
| Households with a broadband subscription B28002 | 85.6% ±5.1 pp | 91.6% | 91.0% | lower than 82% of 396 Florida places |
| Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 | 5.9% ±2.6 pp | 4.8% | 5.2% | higher than 74% of 141 Florida places |
| Foreign-born residents B05002 | 10.4% ±2.8 pp | 21.9% | 14.1% | lower than 71% of 272 Florida places |
| Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP | 46.4 | — | — | higher than 55% of 352 Florida places |
| Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 | +4.2% | — | — | lower than 61% of 336 Florida places |
| Workers who work from home B08301 | 8.7% ±3.3 pp | 15.7% | 15.1% | lower than 91% of 251 Florida places |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 | 11.4% ±3.0 pp | 18.1% | 16.5% | lower than 81% of 285 Florida places |
| Households without a vehicle B08201 | 9.9% ±4.8 pp | 6.0% | 8.4% | higher than 79% of 165 Florida places |
Positions compare Lake Wales with Florida places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation.
How many people live in Lake Wales?
The latest official estimate is 18,650 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 2,055th by population nationally and 129th in Florida among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 864 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.
| Reference date | Population | Change from previous estimate |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 16,285 | Separate from April 2020 base |
| July 1, 2021 | 16,421 | +136 |
| July 1, 2022 | 16,586 | +165 |
| July 1, 2023 | 16,840 | +254 |
| July 1, 2024 | 17,786 | +946 |
| July 1, 2025 | 18,650 | +864 |
From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +2,586 residents (16.1%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.
Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release
Where are the boundaries?
- Entity and stable identifier
- Lake Wales city, Florida · Incorporated city · 1238950
- Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
- Polk County
- Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
- Land area
- 20.3 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Water area
- 1.7 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Approximate population density
- 919 residents per square mile of land
- Internal point
- 27.920697°, -81.599505° · Census geographic reference point
Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .
Income and poverty
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income Households · USD/year | $56,347 ±$7,706 | $74,568 ±$284 | $80,734 ±$166 |
| Per-capita income Total population · USD/year | $28,384 ±$2,216 | $42,609 ±$179 | $44,673 ±$122 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty level | 3,678 ±705 | 22.4% ±4.3 pp |
Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 22.4% (±4.3 percentage points) under the official Census definition.
Home values, rent and tenure
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD | $239,300 ±$12,723 | $359,000 ±$930 | $332,700 ±$236 |
| Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month | $1,110 ±$79 | $1,669 ±$5 | $1,413 ±$2 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 4,099 ±341 | 59.2% ±3.6 pp |
| Renter occupied | 2,825 ±397 | 40.8% ±5.3 pp |
Owner-occupied units make up 59.2% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 4.2 times the median household income.
See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .
Monthly rent by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | Monthly gross rent | 90% margin of error | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | $679 | ±$41 | Estimate with MOE |
| 1 bedroom | $915 | ±$90 | Estimate with MOE |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,142 | ±$155 | Estimate with MOE |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,239 | ±$196 | Estimate with MOE |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,895 | ±$333 | Estimate with MOE |
| 5 or more bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .
Employment among residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force | 6,237 ±472 | 44.9% ±2.8 pp |
| Not in the labor force | 7,641 ±736 | 55.1% ±4.8 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian employed | 5,842 ±462 | 94.1% ±2.4 pp |
| Civilian unemployed | 369 ±164 | 5.9% ±2.6 pp |
These estimates describe residents of Lake Wales wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Lake Wales. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.
Which industries employ residents?
Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 22.8% (1,333 people; ±4.6 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining | 56 ±73 · low precision | 1.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision |
| Construction | 378 ±168 | 6.5% ±2.8 pp |
| Manufacturing | 607 ±261 | 10.4% ±4.4 pp |
| Wholesale trade | 134 ±99 · low precision | 2.3% ±1.7 pp · low precision |
| Retail trade | 774 ±212 | 13.2% ±3.5 pp |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 613 ±321 · low precision | 10.5% ±5.4 pp · low precision |
| Information | 20 ±35 · low precision | 0.3% ±0.6 pp · low precision |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 333 ±160 | 5.7% ±2.7 pp |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services | 495 ±165 | 8.5% ±2.7 pp |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 1,333 ±287 | 22.8% ±4.6 pp |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services | 468 ±213 | 8.0% ±3.6 pp |
| Other services, except public administration | 306 ±132 | 5.2% ±2.2 pp |
| Public administration | 325 ±160 | 5.6% ±2.7 pp |
Occupations among employed residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | 1,747 ±317 | 29.9% ±4.9 pp |
| Service occupations | 1,095 ±253 | 18.7% ±4.1 pp |
| Sales and office | 1,294 ±313 | 22.1% ±5.1 pp |
| Natural resources, construction and maintenance | 405 ±165 | 6.9% ±2.8 pp |
| Production, transportation and material moving | 1,301 ±380 | 22.3% ±6.3 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management occupations | 382 ±142 | 6.5% ±2.4 pp |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | 52 ±42 · low precision | 0.9% ±0.7 pp · low precision |
| Educational instruction and library occupations | 458 ±160 | 7.8% ±2.7 pp |
| Health practitioners and technical occupations | 339 ±134 | 5.8% ±2.2 pp |
| Sales and related occupations | 630 ±196 | 10.8% ±3.2 pp |
| Transportation occupations | 372 ±280 · low precision | 6.4% ±4.8 pp · low precision |
The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.
How residents get to work
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 4,248 ±462 | 74.4% ±5.3 pp |
| Carpooled | 767 ±258 | 13.4% ±4.4 pp |
| Public transportation | 6 ±10 · low precision | 0.1% ±0.2 pp · low precision |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 0 ±24 · low precision | 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision |
| Motorcycle | 0 ±24 · low precision | 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision |
| Bicycle | 1 ±1 · low precision | 0.0% ±0.0 pp · low precision |
| Walked | 34 ±39 · low precision | 0.6% ±0.7 pp · low precision |
| Other means | 157 ±179 · low precision | 2.7% ±3.1 pp · low precision |
| Worked from home | 497 ±193 | 8.7% ±3.3 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 1,539 ±468 | 29.5% ±8.5 pp |
| 15–29 minutes | 1,810 ±418 | 34.7% ±7.3 pp |
| 30–44 minutes | 1,270 ±297 | 24.4% ±5.2 pp |
| 45–59 minutes | 264 ±116 | 5.1% ±2.2 pp |
| 60 minutes or longer | 330 ±120 | 6.3% ±2.2 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available | 687 ±338 | 9.9% ±4.8 pp |
Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.
Households and residents
Median age is 42.7 years (±5.9). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Florida and the U.S.
How many jobs are located in Lake Wales?
Employers in Lake Wales reported 7,807 jobs in 2023, +4.2% compared with 2019 (7,490 jobs). That is 46.4 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.
| Industry | Jobs | Share of local jobs | Florida share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,095 | 26.8% | 11.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,116 | 14.3% | 14.2% |
| Educational services | 871 | 11.2% | 6.8% |
| Manufacturing | 813 | 10.4% | 4.4% |
| Administrative, support and waste management services | 705 | 9.0% | 7.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 596 | 7.6% | 11.1% |
| Public administration | 276 | 3.5% | 4.2% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 228 | 2.9% | 7.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 214 | 2.7% | 4.7% |
| Construction | 204 | 2.6% | 6.7% |
| Other services, except public administration | 184 | 2.4% | 3.0% |
| Utilities | 159 | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 106 | 1.4% | 4.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 75 | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 71 | 0.9% | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 39 | 0.5% | 2.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 31 | 0.4% | 4.0% |
| Information | 24 | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Group | Jobs | Share | Florida share |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,250 a month or less | 1,402 | 18.0% | 16.5% |
| $1,251 to $3,333 a month | 2,804 | 35.9% | 30.4% |
| More than $3,333 a month | 3,601 | 46.1% | 53.1% |
| Age 29 or younger | 1,735 | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Age 30 to 54 | 3,947 | 50.6% | 52.2% |
| Age 55 or older | 2,125 | 27.2% | 26.3% |
Retail trade is the largest sector for jobs located in Lake Wales (26.8% of local jobs, compared with 11.8% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.
Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.
Nearby station climate normals
No station in the retained NOAA release meets our complete standard-normal criteria within 25 km of this place’s Census internal point. We leave local climate values unavailable. Use NOAA’s station lookup to inspect other locations and their coverage.
Check a specific address before moving
City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
- NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
- FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
- Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.
Sources and data notes
Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.
Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.