Lake Wales

Population: 16,365
Median household income: $55,799
Median home value: $225,900

Lake Wales is a community in Polk County, Florida, home to 16,365 residents. Its median household income of $55,799 runs below the Polk County figure of $63,644.

Between 2019 and 2023, Lake Wales's population grew 2.1% from 16,035 to 16,365, while its median home value rose 34.9% from $167,400 to $225,900.

79.3% of workers drive to work alone. 65.5% of homes are single-family detached houses.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 16,365
Median age: 41.1 yrs
Median household income: $55,799
Median home value: $225,900
Median gross rent: $1,060
Housing units: 7,961
Homeownership rate: 61.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.0%
Unemployment rate: 6.3%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

16,03516,365

Median household income

$44,186$55,799

Median home value

$167,400$225,900

Median gross rent

$821$1,060

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	16,035	$44,186	$167,400	$821
2020	16,515	$48,145	$180,700	$883
2021	16,173	$49,226	$189,700	$930
2022	16,455	$55,833	$208,500	$1,000
2023	16,365	$55,799	$225,900	$1,060

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.9%

5 to 1714.8%

18 to 246.5%

25 to 3412.5%

35 to 4412.5%

45 to 548.2%

55 to 6412.5%

65 to 7414.9%

75 and over12.1%

	Count	Share
Under 5	967	5.9%
5 to 17	2,423	14.8%
18 to 24	1,066	6.5%
25 to 34	2,050	12.5%
35 to 44	2,042	12.5%
45 to 54	1,346	8.2%
55 to 64	2,050	12.5%
65 to 74	2,435	14.9%
75 and over	1,986	12.1%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	7,787	47.6%
Black or African American	3,140	19.2%
American Indian & Alaska Native	46	0.3%
Asian	111	0.7%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	6	0.0%
Some other race	30	0.2%
Two or more races	221	1.4%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	5,024	30.7%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma12.5%

High school graduate32.8%

Some college or associate's32.7%

Bachelor's degree14.4%

Graduate or professional degree7.6%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,489	12.5%
High school graduate	3,907	32.8%
Some college or associate's	3,891	32.7%
Bachelor's degree	1,715	14.4%
Graduate or professional degree	907	7.6%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 26 min

Drove alone79.3%

Carpooled11.2%

Public transit0.1%

Walked0.3%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home6.5%

Other means2.7%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	4,377	79.3%
Carpooled	618	11.2%
Public transit	4	0.1%
Walked	15	0.3%
Bicycle	1	0.0%
Worked from home	360	6.5%
Other means	147	2.7%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	1,406	27.2%
15 to 29 min	1,892	36.7%
30 to 44 min	1,080	20.9%
45 to 59 min	303	5.9%
60+ min	481	9.3%

Households

Average household size: 2.44
Poverty rate: 24.4% (3,893 of 15,953)

	Count	Share
Family households	4,223	64.4%
Nonfamily households	2,337	35.6%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1992

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	6,560	82.4%
Vacant	1,401	17.6%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	3,999	61.0%
Renter-occupied	2,561	39.0%

1-unit, detached65.5%

1-unit, attached1.7%

2 to 4 units13.4%

5 to 19 units9.7%

20 or more units4.1%

Mobile home & other5.7%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	5,216	65.5%
1-unit, attached	137	1.7%
2 to 4 units	1,063	13.4%
5 to 19 units	771	9.7%
20 or more units	323	4.1%
Mobile home & other	451	5.7%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1238950
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 20 sq mi
Water area: 1.71 sq mi
Center point: 27.9207, -81.5995