Winter Haven, FL Local Data & Statistics

State: FL

Total population: 55,200 Household income: $59,648 Rent: $1,246

Overview

Total population

55,200

Rent

$1,246

Year built

1990

Household income

$59,648

Per capita income

$30,632

Poverty rate

16.4%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.7 persons

Rent over 30% of income

57.4%

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

55,200

Adults over 25

37,735

Total households

20,396

Household size

2.7 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

$59,648

Per capita income

$30,632

Poverty rate

16.4%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

57.4%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,246

Year built

1990

Households that rent

36.3%

Households that own

63.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

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

Race

White

43.9%

Black

28%

Asian

1.6%

Two or more races

14.9%

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

24.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

75.6%

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

90.3%

Commute time to work

28 mins

Work from home

9.7%

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

32.3%

High school graduate or GED

35%

Some college or associate degree

10.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

22%

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

Comparison of Winter Haven, FL with: Florida United States

Winter Haven, FL

Total population55,200

Rent$1,246

Year built1990

Household income$59,648

Per capita income$30,632

Poverty rate16.4%

Unemployment rate4.1%

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	CityWinter Haven, FL	StateFlorida	CountryUnited States
Total population	55,200	22,416,077	334,922,499
Rent	$1,246	$1,669	$1,413
Year built	1990	1988	1980
Household income	$59,648	$74,568	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,632	$42,609	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.4%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	3.4%	4%

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

Summary for Winter Haven, FL

Winter Haven is located in Florida.

Rent & Income

In Winter Haven, the typical monthly rent is $1,246 and the typical household income is $59,648. Rent here is lower than in both Florida and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 16.4%, which is higher than in both Florida and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 36.3% of households. About 57.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 22% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is higher than Florida and similar to the national rate.

Winter Haven, FL — Rent vs Household Income

Winter Haven, FL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Winter Haven, FL compares in Florida (59 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,246	1 / 59	from lower rent	$1,246 – $2,851
Household income	$59,648	51 / 59	from higher income	$46,195 – $139,825
Poverty rate	16.4%	49 / 59	from lower poverty	6.1% – 30.8%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	58 / 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 Winter Haven, FL

Rent

Rent prices put Winter Haven in 1st 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, Winter Haven comes in 51st among 59 major places. Across Florida, income levels vary from $46,195 in Gainesville, FL to $139,825 in Weston, FL.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Winter Haven ranks 49th out of 59 large places. Statewide rates vary from 6.1% in Weston, FL to 30.8% in Gainesville, FL.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Winter Haven is ranked 58th out of 59 major areas. Across Florida, rates go from 2.1% in Miami Beach, FL up to 4.5% in Daytona Beach, FL.

💰 Rent in Winter Haven, FL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,246 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 Winter Haven, FL

Annual Household Income: $59,648

💡 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 Winter Haven, FL

Estimated Rate: 16.4%

💡 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 Winter Haven, FL

In Winter Haven, FL, households that rent: 7,405 (36.3%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	7,405	36.3%
Owner-Occupied	12,991	63.7%

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 Winter Haven, FL

In Winter Haven, FL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,247 (57.4%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,247	57.4%
Other renter households	3,158	42.6%
Total renter households	7,405	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 Winter Haven, FL

Less than High School: 12,174 people (32.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 13,221 people (35%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,027 people (10.7%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 8,313 people (22%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 37,735

📊 Unemployment Rate in Winter Haven, FL

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 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

Chicopee, MA55,213 Valdosta, GA55,222 West Haven, CT55,147 Perth Amboy, NJ55,278 Smyrna, TN55,066 Bozeman, MT55,042 Tinley Park, IL55,007 Tigard, OR55,395 Anderson, IN54,930 Southaven, MS55,531

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.