The Town FilesPolk County, Florida
790,694 people. The median home is worth $266,500 (typical Florida town: $331,600) and the median household earns $65,978.
Towns in Polk County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | 112,641 | $249,400 | $64,185 | 38.9 |
| Poinciana | 69,309 | $290,700 | $68,015 | 39.5 |
| Winter Haven | 49,219 | $269,800 | $59,648 | 40.1 |
| Haines City | 26,669 | $288,900 | $65,975 | 38.0 |
| Bartow | 19,309 | $234,100 | $68,178 | 36.5 |
| Lake Wales | 16,361 | $239,300 | $56,347 | 42.7 |
| Auburndale | 15,616 | $296,200 | $77,911 | 41.2 |
| Highland City | 12,355 | $347,100 | $90,947 | 39.2 |
| Lakeland Highlands | 12,187 | $385,000 | $108,263 | 45.3 |
| Medulla | 10,871 | $319,800 | $70,802 | 36.6 |
| Fuller Heights | 10,467 | $278,000 | $82,006 | 36.7 |
| Cypress Gardens | 10,169 | $287,100 | $75,483 | 39.3 |
| Davenport | 9,043 | $333,300 | $73,685 | 34.9 |
| Inwood | 7,031 | $142,300 | $55,540 | 36.3 |
| Willow Oak | 6,806 | $276,300 | $65,688 | 29.1 |
| Kathleen | 6,486 | $203,500 | $57,097 | 35.6 |
| Lake Alfred | 6,374 | $239,900 | $67,202 | 33.8 |
| Jan Phyl Village | 5,927 | $258,600 | $53,571 | 34.1 |
| Combee Settlement | 5,911 | $195,900 | $40,384 | 30.6 |
| Crystal Lake | 5,768 | $205,600 | $49,424 | 39.4 |
| Fussels Corner | 5,560 | $92,100 | $56,091 | 54.4 |
| Loughman | 5,417 | $336,000 | $66,273 | 31.3 |
| Dundee | 5,235 | $247,800 | $48,668 | 33.2 |
| Fort Meade | 5,100 | $175,900 | $36,657 | 44.7 |
| Wahneta | 4,409 | $97,500 | $46,598 | 33.1 |
| Alturas | 4,084 | $165,800 | $70,231 | 34.7 |
| Mulberry | 3,952 | $133,800 | $57,708 | 51.4 |
| Eagle Lake | 3,008 | $256,300 | $70,523 | 30.7 |
| Frostproof | 2,877 | $150,500 | $42,000 | 55.2 |
| Polk City | 2,713 | $293,900 | $79,762 | 42.0 |
People and housing
| Polk County | Typical Florida town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,363 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $65,978 | $71,140 |
| Median age | 39.5 | 42.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 11.3% |
Jobs and pay
260,590 jobs in 2024, average pay $55,697 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 742 storm events in Polk County from 1996 to 2026, with 22 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Polk County has been included in 42 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
| August 28, 2023 | Tropical Storm | EM-3596: Tropical Storm Idalia |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).