The Town FilesHaines City, Florida
City in Polk County · population 26,669 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,900
- Household income
- $65,975
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 38.0
Haines City is a city of 26,669 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $288,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Florida towns, more of a college town than 83% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 82% of Florida towns.
How Haines City ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Haines City is worth $288,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $65,975, which is more affordable than 55% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,224 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Haines City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,224 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $65,975 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.1% | — |
Who lives in Haines City
| People | Haines City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 35.5 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Haines City
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 51.9°F. About 46.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 121 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Haines City since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1966 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 514 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2022.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 260,590 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,697 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Haines City itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Haines City
8 public schools with 7,709 students, about 20.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAINES CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,914 | 23.9 |
| SHELLEY S. BOONE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,421 | 25.8 |
| SANDHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,017 | 16.4 |
| ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 760 | 16.2 |
| EASTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 668 | 17.6 |
| DANIEL JENKINS ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 499 | 17.8 |
| BETHUNE ACADEMY | PK-5 | 430 | 21.5 |
| HAINES CITY HEADSTART CENTER | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Haines City
- Davenport, FL3.4 mi · 9,043 people · home $333,300
- Lake Alfred, FL6.3 mi · 6,374 people · home $239,900
- Dundee, FL6.8 mi · 5,235 people · home $247,800
- Poinciana, FL8.4 mi · 69,309 people · home $290,700
- Winter Haven, FL8.5 mi · 49,219 people · home $269,800
- Cypress Gardens, FL8.8 mi · 10,169 people · home $287,100
- Loughman, FL9.1 mi · 5,417 people · home $336,000
- Inwood, FL10.5 mi · 7,031 people · home $142,300
Haines City questions
Is Haines City, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Haines City scores better for retirees than 30% of Florida towns and quieter than 33%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Haines City?
The median owner-occupied home in Haines City is valued at $288,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,975, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,224 a month.
What is the weather like in Haines City?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 51.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Haines City get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Haines City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 4, 1966. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)