The Town FilesLakeland, Georgia
City in Lanier County · population 2,875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,600
- Household income
- $31,147
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.1
Lakeland is a city of 2,875 people in Lanier County, Georgia. The median home is worth $148,600, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Georgia towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Georgia towns.
How Lakeland ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lakeland is worth $148,600, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $31,147, which is more affordable than 14% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $879 a month. 47.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakeland | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $879 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $31,147 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 47.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lakeland
| People | Lakeland | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 44.1% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 88.0% |
Weather in Lakeland
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 37.5°F. About 49.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 3, 2012 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 23, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 30, 1971.
Severe weather in Lanier County since 1996
Lanier County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| September 7, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4738: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Lanier County
Lanier County had 1,407 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,639 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Lakeland itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Lakeland
3 public schools with 1,683 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanier County Elementary School | PK-5 | 837 | 14.0 |
| Lanier County High School | 9-12 | 473 | 14.8 |
| Lanier County Middle School | 6-8 | 373 | 13.8 |
Towns near Lakeland
- Bemiss, GA11.5 mi · 8,999 people · home $217,400
- Nashville, GA15.3 mi · 4,947 people · home $133,900
- Valdosta, GA17.9 mi · 55,378 people · home $182,800
- Hahira, GA18.2 mi · 3,384 people · home $206,500
- Adel, GA21.6 mi · 5,571 people · home $154,900
- Echols County, GA24.9 mi · 3,697 people · home $124,100
Lakeland questions
Is Lakeland, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakeland scores better for retirees than 66% of Georgia towns and quieter than 50%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Lakeland?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakeland is valued at $148,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,147, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $879 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakeland?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 37.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lakeland get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 3, 2012. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- 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)