Lakeland 68 Good
Lakeland Livability #89 ranked city in Tennessee#9,352 ranked city in the USARanks better than 68% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Lakeland

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Employment Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Schools Schools

    A high score in the schools category could be the result of elements like top-notch test scores, high education levels and the convenient location of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Lakeland?

Lakeland, Tennessee is a moderately-sized city with a population of 12,926 residents. If we look at the most recent Census, Lakeland is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Lakeland, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 28 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Lakeland could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Tennessee if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like commute, health & safety, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Lakeland and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Lakeland to Tennessee and the national average.

Lakeland has a livability score of 68/100 and is ranked #89 in Tennessee and #9,131 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we know that Lakeland ranks very well for crime (A-), cost of living (B), education (A-) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Lakeland scores poorly for, including: amenities (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Lakeland has an unemployment rate of 2.6% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

Parents and families often rely on school test scores when making decisions about local public schools. Test score data serves as a crucial metric for comparing and assessing various educational institutions. In Lakeland, the average school test scores reached an impressive 70%, significantly higher than the national average. This remarkable performance underscores the commitment of the educational system to equip students with the knowledge and resources necessary for success. It allows your children to receive the support and skills that are essential for thriving academically, making Lakeland an excellent choice for families seeking a high-quality education.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Lakeland has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Lakeland is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Lakeland come in at $516,128, which is 96.9% higher than the Tennessee average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lakeland, the home price to income ratio is 3.3, which is 10.8% lower than the Tennessee average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Lakeland

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Lakeland?

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Compare Lakeland, TN Livability

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      Lakeland transportation information

      Statistic Lakeland Tennessee National
      Average one way commute28min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work86.8%83.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.4%9.2%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.8%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.5%1.4%2.8%
      Working from home6.2%3.9%4.6%
      Source: The Lakeland, TN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.