Lakeland, Florida, known as "The Swan City," is a charming community located between Tampa and Orlando. With its beautiful lakes, vibrant arts scene, and strong local economy, Lakeland offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of natural beauty and modern amenities makes living in Lakeland an attractive option for families and professionals.
Residents of Lakeland enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city's numerous parks, lakes, and cultural institutions provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities and enrichment. The Hollis Garden and the Polk Museum of Art are popular destinations that celebrate the city's cultural richness. The annual Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo is an event that showcases Lakeland's vibrant community spirit and love for aviation.
Lakeland's strong economy is supported by a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, education, and manufacturing. The city's strategic location between Tampa and Orlando provides residents with easy access to job opportunities and cultural amenities in both metropolitan areas. Major employers in the area include Lakeland Regional Health and Publix Super Markets.
The housing market in Lakeland includes a variety of options, from lakefront properties to single-family homes in suburban neighborhoods. The city's strong sense of community and welcoming atmosphere further enhance its appeal.
Public transportation in Lakeland is well-developed, with access to Citrus Connection buses, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. Lakeland's climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, Lakeland offers a blend of natural beauty, economic opportunity, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.
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.
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.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Ratings
Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.
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
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
Lakeland, Florida is a mid-sized city with a population of 114,288 residents. At 71%, the majority of the Lakeland population is White; this is followed by 19% Black and 2% Asian. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Lakeland, only 50% of the population is married. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Lakeland your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 23 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a fulfilling experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Lakeland, Florida. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. With useful information like amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Lakeland and in the areas around Lakeland is a much easier task.
With a livability score of 77 out of 100, Lakeland is ranked #2,862 in the United States and #199 in Florida. This is a fantastic score, as Lakeland ranks well in multiple categories! The cherry on top is that Lakeland also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Lakeland has received high marks for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a more negative note, Lakeland does not have favorable grades for the following: amenities (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Lakeland apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Lakeland. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Lakeland are affordable. The median home price for Lakeland homes is $283,243, which is 5.5% lower than the Florida average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lakeland, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.8, which is 9.5% lower than the Florida average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Lakeland | Florida | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.3% | 79.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.6% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.6% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.6% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.0% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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