Lakeland, FL Local Data & Statistics

State: FL

Total population: 119,961 Household income: $64,185 Rent: $1,395

Overview

Total population

119,961

Rent

$1,395

Year built

1983

Household income

$64,185

Per capita income

$35,902

Poverty rate

13.2%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Florida

Total population

119,961

Adults over 25

82,141

Total households

47,816

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$64,185

Per capita income

$35,902

Poverty rate

13.2%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Rent over 30% of income

47.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,395

Year built

1983

Households that rent

43.6%

Households that own

56.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

58.9%

Black

18.5%

Asian

2.6%

Two or more races

11.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

20.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

79.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

85.6%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

14.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

27.7%

High school graduate or GED

31.5%

Some college or associate degree

11.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

29.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lakeland, FL with: Florida United States

Lakeland, FL

Total population119,961

Rent$1,395

Year built1983

Household income$64,185

Per capita income$35,902

Poverty rate13.2%

Unemployment rate3.9%

Florida State

Total population22,416,077

Rent$1,669

Year built1988

Household income$74,568

Per capita income$42,609

Poverty rate12.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLakeland, FL	StateFlorida	CountryUnited States
Total population	119,961	22,416,077	334,922,499
Rent	$1,395	$1,669	$1,413
Year built	1983	1988	1980
Household income	$64,185	$74,568	$80,734
Per capita income	$35,902	$42,609	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.2%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lakeland, FL, Florida and United States →

Summary for Lakeland, FL

Lakeland is located in Florida.

Rent & Income

In Lakeland, the typical monthly rent is $1,395 and the typical household income is $64,185. Rent here is lower than Florida and similar to the U.S., and household income is lower than both Florida and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 13.2%, which is similar to the Florida rate and higher than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 43.6% of households. About 47.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 29.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is higher than Florida and similar to the national rate.

Lakeland, FL — Rent vs Household Income

Lakeland, FL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Lakeland, FL compares in Florida (59 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,395	7 / 59	from lower rent	$1,246 – $2,851
Household income	$64,185	41 / 59	from higher income	$46,195 – $139,825
Poverty rate	13.2%	32 / 59	from lower poverty	6.1% – 30.8%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	56 / 59	from lower unemployment	2.1% – 4.5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Florida with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Lakeland, FL

Rent

Rent prices put Lakeland in 7th place among 59 large communities in Florida. Across Florida, rents range from $1,246 in Winter Haven, FL up to $2,851 in Weston, FL.

Household income

In terms of household income, Lakeland comes in 41st among 59 major places. Across Florida, income levels vary from $46,195 in Gainesville, FL to $139,825 in Weston, FL.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Lakeland ranks 32nd out of 59 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 6.1% in Weston, FL to 30.8% in Gainesville, FL.

Unemployment rate

Lakeland places 56th among 59 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.1% to 4.5%.

💰 Rent in Lakeland, FL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,395 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lakeland, FL

Annual Household Income: $64,185

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lakeland, FL

Estimated Rate: 13.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lakeland, FL

In Lakeland, FL, households that rent: 20,860 (43.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	20,860	43.6%
Owner-Occupied	26,956	56.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lakeland, FL

In Lakeland, FL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,933 (47.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,933	47.6%
Other renter households	10,927	52.4%
Total renter households	20,860	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lakeland, FL

Less than High School: 22,780 people (27.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 25,874 people (31.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,299 people (11.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 24,188 people (29.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 82,141

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lakeland, FL

Estimated Rate: 3.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Hartford, CT119,970 Fairfield, CA119,985 Berkeley, CA120,223 West Palm Beach, FL119,508 Ann Arbor, MI121,179 Wilmington, NC118,578 Lafayette, LA121,537 Billings, MT118,321 Rochester, MN121,638 Richardson, TX118,269

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.