Census-designated place · Florida
Kathleen, Florida
Kathleen, census-designated place, in Polk County, Florida. Kathleen had 7,201 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,300). GEOID 1235950.
Residents, 2020-2024
7,201
±1,300 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 6,486
Median household income
$57,097
±$8,468 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$203,500
±$29,985 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,247
±$230 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
Where is Kathleen and what county is it in?
Kathleen is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Polk County, Florida. It covers 7.2 square miles of land, 902 residents per square mile in 2020.
Kathleen 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 Kathleen, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Kathleen's population at 7,201 (±1,300). The 2020 Census counted 6,486 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Kathleen is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Kathleen | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,201 ±1,300 | 790,694 | no clear change |
| Households | 2,347 ±281 | 289,425 | +384 |
| Average household size | 3.07 ±0.38 | 2.68 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,519 ±276 | 340,748 | no clear change |
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 Kathleen?
The median resident of Kathleen is 35.6 years old; 28.6% are under 18 and 13.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 36.1%. 8.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Kathleen | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 ±4.0 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 28.6% ±7.8 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.8% ±3.7 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 47.2% ±3.3 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 36.1% ±11.2 pts | 29.2% | +17.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 57.9% ±10.6 pts | 50.8% | −19.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±1.2 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±2.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.6% ±3.4 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 31.4% ±11.4 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0% ±2.0 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 19.4% ±5.3 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.9% ±4.5 pts | 12.4% | −8.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 73.8% ±7.2 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 11.4% ±3.2 pts | 23.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.3% ±6.0 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±1.0 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 Kathleen earn?
Half of Kathleen's 2,347 households earn less than $57,097 a year (±$8,468), against $65,978 in Polk County and $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 it was $58,907 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 31.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kathleen | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,097 ±$8,468 | $65,978 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $70,242 ±$7,968 | $87,487 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,116 ±$4,009 | $33,249 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 31.8% ±11.9 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 57.0% ±19.3 pts | 21.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.9% ±7.1 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.3% ±1.6 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.2% ±3.1 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 Kathleen?
Owners occupy 79.6% of Kathleen's occupied homes and renters 20.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $203,500 by its owner (±$29,985). The median renter pays $1,247 a month including utilities, and 46.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kathleen | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $203,500 ±$29,985 | $266,500 | +$68,124 |
| Median gross rent | $1,247 ±$230 | $1,363 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.2% ±26.2 pts | 44.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,429 ±$219 | $1,716 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79.6% ±7.6 pts | 70.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 20.4% ±7.6 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,519 ±276 | 340,748 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0% ±3.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±10.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 46.0% ±8.4 pts | 62.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 52.2% ±8.0 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.4% ±2.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.8% ±1.9 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.2% ±3.2 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.0% ±5.3 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 do people in Kathleen work and get to work?
78.2% of Kathleen's workers drive alone and 7.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.1 minutes.
| Measure | Kathleen | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.0% ±6.1 pts | 58.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% ±3.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 78.2% ±6.9 pts | 75.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.2% ±6.4 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.4% ±2.8 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.1 min ±2.4 | 30.5 min | no clear change |
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 Kathleen?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Kathleen, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $60,355 (Tract 121.25) to $74,261 (Tract 121.30).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 121.25Polk County | 3,241 | $60,355 |
| Tract 121.24Polk County | 6,811 | $57,191 |
| Tract 121.30Polk County | 2,396 | $74,261 |
| Tract 121.13Polk County | 6,335 | $81,875 |
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 Kathleen) · Census block assignment files
How does Kathleen compare with other places in Florida?
Kathleen ranks 573rd of 754 places in Florida with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 405th | 766 |
| Residents per square mile | 583rd | 770 |
| Median household income | 573rd | 754 |
| Per capita income | 693rd | 763 |
| Median home value | 629th | 749 |
| Median gross rent | 541st | 710 |
| Poverty rate | 28th | 634 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 687th | 733 |
| Median age | 658th | 762 |
| Owner-occupied share | 270th | 760 |
| Work from home | 554th | 596 |
| Travel time to work | 340th | 764 |
Kathleen's figures with every place in Florida (CSV)
Every place in Florida, sortable · Compare Kathleen 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 Kathleen?
14 of the 57 figures for Kathleen 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 Kathleen 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' school search.