The Town FilesWinter Haven, Florida
City in Polk County · population 49,219 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $269,800
- Household income
- $59,648
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 40.1
Winter Haven is a city of 49,219 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $269,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 76% of Florida towns.
How Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven is worth $269,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $59,648, which is more affordable than 52% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,246 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winter Haven | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,800 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,246 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $59,648 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Winter Haven
| People | Winter Haven | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 92.4% |
Weather in Winter Haven
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
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winter Haven since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1966 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 513 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 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 Winter Haven itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Winter Haven
22 public schools with 13,129 students, about 20.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WINTER HAVEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,553 | 23.0 |
| CHAIN OF LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,008 | 15.0 |
| FRED G. GARNER ACADEMY | PK-5 | 840 | 16.2 |
| NEW BEGINNINGS HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 6-12 | 837 | 59.8 |
| WESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 829 | 19.7 |
| JEWETT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | PK-8 | 737 | 16.0 |
| DENISON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 729 | 21.4 |
| GARDEN GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 691 | 18.2 |
| LAKE SHIPP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 620 | 23.8 |
| ELBERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 596 | 18.6 |
| JEWETT MIDDLE ACADEMY MAGNET | 6-8 | 587 | 22.6 |
| FRANK E. BRIGHAM ACADEMY | PK-5 | 551 | 17.2 |
Towns near Winter Haven
- Inwood, FL2.2 mi · 7,031 people · home $142,300
- Cypress Gardens, FL3.9 mi · 10,169 people · home $287,100
- Jan Phyl Village, FL4.2 mi · 5,927 people · home $258,600
- Eagle Lake, FL5.1 mi · 3,008 people · home $256,300
- Auburndale, FL5.9 mi · 15,616 people · home $296,200
- Wahneta, FL6.0 mi · 4,409 people · home $97,500
- Lake Alfred, FL6.4 mi · 6,374 people · home $239,900
- Fussels Corner, FL7.8 mi · 5,560 people · home $92,100
Winter Haven questions
Is Winter Haven, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winter Haven scores better for retirees than 40% of Florida towns and quieter than 46%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Winter Haven?
The median owner-occupied home in Winter Haven is valued at $269,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,648, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,246 a month.
What is the weather like in Winter Haven?
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 Winter Haven get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winter Haven 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)