Lakeland, Florida
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Lakeland, FL.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Lakeland, FL?
Lakeland, FL has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 86 (below the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $229,100 and median rent about $1,299, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $60,947. Typical commute is 21 minutes; summer highs average 93°F. Violent-offense rates run about 311.8 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 86U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $229,100U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,299U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $60,947U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 5.6%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 21 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 311.8per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 93°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Lakeland compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 124,990City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $60,947Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year22% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 86ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year14% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $229,100City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year24% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,299City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 5.6%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · August 20261.4 pts above U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 21 min16% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime rate
- 311.8per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)44% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2877.8per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)Near catalog avg (3005.3)Catalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 93°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 54°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals19.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 46.1 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals39% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 237As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Lakeland grew 28.0% from 97,640 in 2010 to 124,990 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Lakeland, FL expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Lakeland's housing cost index is 86 versus 100 nationally — below the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($229,100 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,299 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 86 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $229,100 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,299 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Lakeland, FL?
Typical ownership costs center near $229,100, while median gross rent is about $1,299 a month. Against a median household income of $60,947, rent alone is roughly 26% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $229,100
- Median rent $1,299/month
- Median household income $60,947
What is the job market like in Lakeland, FL?
County unemployment recently ran 5.6% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Lakeland is about $60,947 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 5.6% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $60,947
How long is the typical commute in Lakeland, FL?
Average one-way commute time is about 21 minutes. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 21 minutes average one-way
Is Lakeland, FL safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 311.8 per 100k and property about 2877.8 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 311.8 per 100k
- Property 2877.8 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Lakeland, FL?
Normals show summer highs near 93°F, winter lows near 54°F, about 46.1 inches of rain, and roughly 237 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 93°F
- Winter low 54°F
- 46.1 in rain · 237 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Lakeland, FL?
Newcomers often start with Downtown, Lake Hollingsworth, South Lakeland — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Downtown
- Lake Hollingsworth
- South Lakeland
Lakeland (pop. 124,990) sits in Florida. Median household income is roughly $60,947, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 86 — below the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $229,100 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Downtown and Lake Hollingsworth, then compare against South Lakeland once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Lakeland with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Subtropical summers, hurricane planning, and no state income tax loom large. The normals show about 46.1 inches of rain and 237 sunny days across a typical year. Plan on roughly 21 minutes each way for a typical commute. Unemployment near 5.6% is elevated versus many peer cities, so industry mix matters more in a move decision. Violent-offense rates around 311.8 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- Lake Hollingsworth
- South Lakeland
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Lakeland city, 1600000US1238250) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Polk County, August 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00012876 WINTER HAVEN GILBERT AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19