City

Lake Wales, FL

3 ZIP codes  ·  Polk County  ·  Florida

👥41,638Population
💰$52,506Median HH Income▼ 31% below avg
🎂44.9Median Age
🏠$182,476Median Home Value▼ 35% below avg
🎓31.7%College Grads▼ 18% below avg
📊5.1%Unemployment≈ Avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 48.1% Female 51.9% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 61.1%Hispanic: 24.8%Black: 11.2%Asian: 0.3%Other: 2.2%Race
White61.1%
Hispanic24.8%
Black11.2%
Asian0.3%
Other2.2%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
5%
5–17
16%
18–24
7%
25–44
23%
45–64
22%
65+
12%

Key Indicators

Median Age44.9 yrs
Avg HH Size2.49
Below Poverty16.9% ▲ 69% above avg
College Grads31.7% ▼ 18% below avg
Unemployment5.1% ≈ Avg
No HS Diploma717 (2.6%)
HS Graduate9,640 (35.3%)
Some College4,239 (15.5%)
Associates4,028 (14.7%)
Bachelors2,963 (10.8%)
Graduate Degree5,724 (21%)

Education

No HS: 2.6%HS Grad: 35.3%Some College: 15.5%Associates: 14.7%Bachelors: 10.8%Graduate: 21%Edu
No HS2.6%
HS Grad35.3%
Some College15.5%
Associates14.7%
Bachelors10.8%
Graduate21.0%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 72.9%Renter: 27.1%Tenure
Owner72.9%
Renter27.1%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
12%
$50k–$100k
16%
$100k–$150k
14%
$150k–$200k
14%
$200k–$300k
23%
$300k–$500k
14%
Over $500k
7%

Financials

Median HH Income$52,506 ▼ 31% below avg
Median Home Value$182,475 ▼ 35% below avg
Home/Income Ratio3.5x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$1,104/mo
Total Housing Units21,302
Vacant Units4,839

Income Distribution

Under $25k
23%
$25k–$50k
20%
$50k–$75k
22%
$75k–$100k
16%
$100k–$150k
12%
$150k–$200k
4%
Over $200k
3%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
92%
Public Transit
0%
Walked
0%
Work From Home
8%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
25%
15–30 min
33%
30–45 min
22%
Over 45 min
20%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
2%
1940s–1950s
6%
1960s–1970s
18%
1980s–1990s
19%
2000+
56%
About Lake Wales, FL

Lake Wales is a city in Florida, located in Polk County. The city spans 3 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 41,638 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 44.9 years.

Economically, Lake Wales is a working-class community. The median household income of $52,505 is below the national average. Approximately 16.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 5.1%, near the national average.

The real estate market in Lake Wales is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $182,475, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $1,103 per month. Homeownership is high at 72.9%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Lake Wales is moderately educated. 31.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average. The community is majority White (61.09%).

Lake Wales, FL offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within Florida. Spread across 3 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in Lake Wales
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
33853 12,385 $40,938 $198,100 $965 7.3% 29.1% 55.8%
33859 10,827 $61,871 $200,300 $1,232 3.8% 37.6% 75.6%
33898 18,426 $54,778 $161,500 $1,122 4.3% 29.9% 82.9%