What are the schools like in Lakeland, FL?

Lakeland is served primarily by POLK. The district operates 87 elementary schools, 25 middle schools, and 36 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.3:1.

What is the median household income in Lakeland?

The median household income in Lakeland, FL is $58,290 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in Lakeland, FL?

Lakeland has an average high temperature of 73.7°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.3 inches.

Lakeland, FL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lakeland, FL affordable or expensive?

Lakeland's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lakeland is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $207,800 and the median rent is $1,217 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lakeland, FL?

Lakeland has a violent crime rate of 56.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 346.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lakeland, FL a Good Place to Live?

Lakeland is a mid-sized city of 114,404 in Florida, with a median household income of $58,290 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Lakeland stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lakeland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lakeland city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.7

Lakeland's overall cost of living index is 100.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lakeland costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Lakeland, FL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$207,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,217	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,290	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lakeland's violent crime rate is 56.0 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

56.0 /100k

Property Crime

346.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lakeland is served primarily by POLK. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lakeland, FL	National Avg
School District	POLK	—
Elementary Schools	87	—
Middle Schools	25	—
High Schools	36	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lakeland sees average highs of 73.7°F in January and 92.1°F in July, with 52.3 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Lakeland, FL
Average High — January	73.7°F
Average High — July	92.1°F
Annual Precipitation	52.3"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Lakeland, FL	National Avg
Population	114,404	—
Median Age	40.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	65.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	19.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.6%	18.9%
Asian	2.3%	6.3%
Under 18	18.8%	22.2%
65 and over	21.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Combee Settlement, FL 3 mi Crystal Lake, FL 4 mi Fussels Corner, FL 6 mi Lakeland Highlands, FL 7 mi Kathleen, FL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Lakeland

Lakeland, FL is covered by 6 ZIP codes:

33805 33811 33803 33815 33801 33809

Lakeland vs Other Cities

Lakeland, FL vs Combee Settlement, FL Lakeland, FL vs Crystal Lake, FL Lakeland, FL vs Fussels Corner, FL Lakeland, FL vs Lakeland Highlands, FL Lakeland, FL vs Kathleen, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lakeland, FL affordable or expensive?

Lakeland's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lakeland roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $207,800 and median rent is $1,217/month.

What is the crime rate in Lakeland, FL?

Lakeland's violent crime rate is 56.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 346.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lakeland?

Public schools in Lakeland are operated by POLK. The district has 87 elementary, 25 middle, and 36 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. 26.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lakeland, FL a good place to live?

Lakeland, FL has a population of 114,404, a median household income of $58,290, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lakeland?

Lakeland averages 73.7°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.3 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lakeland?

Lakeland, FL is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 33805, 33811, 33803, 33815, 33801, 33809.

What is the population of Lakeland?

The population of Lakeland, Florida is 114,404 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lakeland?

Key numbers for living in Lakeland: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $207,800, median household income $58,290, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lakeland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.