The Town FilesPolk City, Florida
Town in Polk County · population 2,713 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $293,900
- Household income
- $79,762
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 42.0
Polk City is a town of 2,713 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $293,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 86% of Florida towns, easier by car than 80% of Florida towns, quieter than 78% of Florida towns.
How Polk 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 Polk City is worth $293,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $79,762, which is more affordable than 77% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,111 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Polk City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,111 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $79,762 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Polk City
| People | Polk City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Polk 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
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polk City since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1966 about 1.8 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 457 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 16, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 13, 2024.
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 Polk City itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Polk City
1 public school with 539 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLK CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 539 | 15.9 |
Towns near Polk City
- Auburndale, FL5.3 mi · 15,616 people · home $296,200
- Lake Alfred, FL7.5 mi · 6,374 people · home $239,900
- Fussels Corner, FL8.7 mi · 5,560 people · home $92,100
- Combee Settlement, FL9.5 mi · 5,911 people · home $195,900
- Inwood, FL10.5 mi · 7,031 people · home $142,300
- Crystal Lake, FL10.8 mi · 5,768 people · home $205,600
- Winter Haven, FL11.0 mi · 49,219 people · home $269,800
- Lakeland, FL11.5 mi · 112,641 people · home $249,400
Polk City questions
Is Polk City, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Polk City scores better for retirees than 61% of Florida towns and quieter than 78%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Polk City?
The median owner-occupied home in Polk City is valued at $293,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,762, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,111 a month.
What is the weather like in Polk 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 Polk City get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polk 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)