The Town FilesWahneta, Florida
Community in Polk County · population 4,409 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,500
- Household income
- $46,598
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 60
- Median age
- 33.1
Wahneta is a community of 4,409 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $97,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 88% of Florida towns.
How Wahneta 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 Wahneta is worth $97,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $46,598, which is more affordable than 97% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,113 a month. 61.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wahneta | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,113 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $46,598 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 61.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wahneta
| People | Wahneta | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.9% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 32.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 35.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Wahneta
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 52.0°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 115 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
60 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wahneta since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 24, 2012 about 3.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 65 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 30, 1996.
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 Wahneta itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Towns near Wahneta
- Eagle Lake, FL2.0 mi · 3,008 people · home $256,300
- Cypress Gardens, FL3.9 mi · 10,169 people · home $287,100
- Jan Phyl Village, FL5.6 mi · 5,927 people · home $258,600
- Inwood, FL6.0 mi · 7,031 people · home $142,300
- Winter Haven, FL6.0 mi · 49,219 people · home $269,800
- Bartow, FL7.5 mi · 19,309 people · home $234,100
- Lake Wales, FL8.3 mi · 16,361 people · home $239,300
- Alturas, FL8.6 mi · 4,084 people · home $165,800
Wahneta questions
Is Wahneta, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wahneta scores better for retirees than 6% of Florida towns and quieter than 22%. 9.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.1).
How much does a house cost in Wahneta?
The median owner-occupied home in Wahneta is valued at $97,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,598, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,113 a month.
What is the weather like in Wahneta?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 52.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Wahneta get tornadoes?
60 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wahneta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 24, 2012. 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)