City · Florida
Bartow, Florida
Bartow, city, in Polk County, Florida. Bartow had 23,617 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 20.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 19,309 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 20,438 (±36). GEOID 1203675.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,617
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 19,309 · ACS 2020-2024: 20,438 ±36
Median household income
$68,178
±$7,603 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$234,100
±$12,029 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,142
±$165 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
Where is Bartow and what county is it in?
Bartow is a city in Polk County, Florida. It covers 46.5 square miles of land, 415 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bartow is in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bartow, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 23,617 people lived in Bartow on July 1, 2025, up 20.0% since 2020, faster than Florida (+8.9%). The 2020 Census counted 19,309 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 20,438 (±36).
| Measure | Bartow | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 20,438 ±36 | 790,694 | +998 |
| Households | 7,439 ±389 | 289,425 | +806 |
| Average household size | 2.60 ±0.13 | 2.68 | −0.24 |
| Housing units | 8,019 ±443 | 340,748 | no clear change |
Bartow's population since 2000
From 15,340 in 2000 to 23,617 in 2025: up 54.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bartow as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bartow?
The median resident of Bartow is 36.5 years old; 20.2% are under 18 and 16.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 22.0%. 5.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bartow | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±2.2 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.2% ±2.4 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.5% ±2.0 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 50.4% ±2.3 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.9% ±3.4 pts | 29.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.8% ±4.5 pts | 50.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 22.0% ±3.2 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.6 pts | 1.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±1.2 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.5% ±1.7 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.5% ±3.4 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.6% ±1.9 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 14.0% ±2.3 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.4% ±2.0 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.7% ±1.9 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.8% ±2.6 pts | 23.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.4% ±1.6 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.8% ±3.0 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bartow earn?
Half of Bartow's 7,439 households earn less than $68,178 a year (±$7,603), against $65,978 in Polk County and $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 it was $58,801 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bartow | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,178 ±$7,603 | $65,978 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,142 ±$7,185 | $87,487 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,475 ±$2,534 | $33,249 | +$5,755 |
| People below the poverty line | 18.1% ±3.3 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 41.0% ±9.5 pts | 21.3% | +13.1 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.0% ±2.9 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.2% ±1.9 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.9% ±3.2 pts | 90.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bartow?
Owners occupy 65.9% of Bartow's occupied homes and renters 34.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $234,100 by its owner (±$12,029). The median renter pays $1,142 a month including utilities, and 34.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bartow | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $234,100 ±$12,029 | $266,500 | +$65,372 |
| Median gross rent | $1,142 ±$165 | $1,363 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.0% ±9.8 pts | 44.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,587 ±$133 | $1,716 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.9% ±4.2 pts | 70.5% | +7.0 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.1% ±4.2 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Housing units | 8,019 ±443 | 340,748 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±3.9 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.1% ±3.8 pts | 62.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.5% ±1.7 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.0% ±1.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.7% ±2.0 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.4% ±2.8 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.2% ±2.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bartow building?
Builders took permits for 422 new housing units in Bartow in 2025 (385 in single-family houses), 17.9 per 1,000 residents against 7.6 across Florida.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bartow work and get to work?
78.7% of Bartow's workers drive alone and 7.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Bartow | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.0% ±3.3 pts | 58.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% ±1.5 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.7% ±4.6 pts | 75.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.0% ±3.7 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±1.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.9% ±2.2 pts | 12.4% | +4.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.3 min ±2.5 | 30.5 min | +4.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bartow?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Bartow, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $45,676 (Tract 152) to $106,506 (Tract 148.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 150Polk County | 6,031 | $64,095 |
| Tract 152Polk County | 4,725 | $45,676 |
| Tract 151.01Polk County | 4,236 | $66,111 |
| Tract 148.03Polk County | 4,547 | $106,506 |
| Tract 151.02Polk County | 2,610 | $82,941 |
| Tract 153.01Polk County | 5,234 | $40,996 |
| Tract 147.04Polk County | 6,858 | $63,125 |
| Tract 145.01Polk County | 11,380 | $66,148 |
| Tract 159Polk County | 2,257 | $70,278 |
| Tract 148.04Polk County | 11,433 | $104,537 |
| Tract 148.02Polk County | 2,744 | $49,889 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bartow) · Census block assignment files
How does Bartow compare with other places in Florida?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bartow is the 1,685th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 108th-most populous of 411 in Florida.
Bartow ranks 432nd of 754 places in Florida with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 108th | 411 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 36th | 328 |
| Residents per square mile | 689th | 770 |
| Median household income | 432nd | 754 |
| Per capita income | 491st | 763 |
| Median home value | 575th | 749 |
| Median gross rent | 588th | 710 |
| Poverty rate | 155th | 634 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 493rd | 733 |
| Median age | 633rd | 762 |
| Owner-occupied share | 484th | 760 |
| Work from home | 536th | 596 |
| Travel time to work | 446th | 764 |
Bartow's figures with every place in Florida (CSV)
Every place in Florida, sortable · Compare Bartow with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bartow?
6 of the 57 figures for Bartow on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bartow are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Bartow.