Lakeland City Hall Police Department · Mjrmtg / CC BY-SA 3.0Lanier County Board of Education · Michael Rivera / CC BY-SA 4.0Lanier County High School · Mjrmtg / CC BY-SA 3.0Lanier County Middle School · Mjrmtg / CC BY-SA 3.0
Lakeland is a small town of 2,928 in Georgia, with a median household income of $28,920
and a 0.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lakeland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 86.7
Lakeland's overall cost of living index is 86.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lakeland costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lakeland, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$134,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$795
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
40.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$28,920
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lakeland's violent crime rate is 172.7 per 100,000 residents
— 55% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
172.7 /100k
Property Crime
623.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lakeland is served primarily by Lanier County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lakeland, GA
National Avg
School District
Lanier County
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lakeland sees average highs of 61.8°F in January
and 92.1°F in July,
with 49.3 inches of annual precipitation
.
Lakeland's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lakeland roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $134,500 and median rent is $795/month.
Lakeland's violent crime rate is 172.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 623.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lakeland are operated by Lanier County.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 10.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lakeland, GA has a population of 2,928, a median household income of $28,920, and an unemployment rate of 0.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lakeland averages 61.8°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.3 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lakeland, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 31635.
The population of Lakeland, Georgia is 2,928 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lakeland: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $134,500, median household income $28,920, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.
