City · Florida
Lake Wales, Florida
Lake Wales, city, in Polk County, Florida. Lake Wales had 18,650 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 16.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 16,361 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 16,785 (±37). GEOID 1238950.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
18,650
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,361 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,785 ±37
Median household income
$56,347
±$7,706 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$239,300
±$12,723 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,110
±$79 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
Where is Lake Wales and what county is it in?
Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida. It covers 20.3 square miles of land, 806 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lake Wales 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 Lake Wales, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 18,650 people lived in Lake Wales on July 1, 2025, up 16.1% since 2020, faster than Florida (+8.9%). The 2020 Census counted 16,361 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 16,785 (±37).
| Measure | Lake Wales | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,785 ±37 | 790,694 | +750 |
| Households | 6,924 ±391 | 289,425 | +1,007 |
| Average household size | 2.37 ±0.13 | 2.68 | −0.27 |
| Housing units | 8,223 ±513 | 340,748 | +1,048 |
Lake Wales's population since 2000
From 10,194 in 2000 to 18,650 in 2025: up 83.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lake Wales 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 Lake Wales?
The median resident of Lake Wales is 42.7 years old; 19.2% are under 18 and 26.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 44.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 30.8%. 10.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lake Wales | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 ±5.9 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.2% ±3.4 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.7% ±3.3 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 46.8% ±2.6 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 30.8% ±6.4 pts | 29.2% | +12.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 44.3% ±5.4 pts | 50.8% | −9.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 21.8% ±4.3 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 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 | 1.8% ±0.8 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.4% ±2.8 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 25.8% ±5.3 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.2% ±1.6 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 16.8% ±2.5 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6% ±2.7 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.5% ±2.6 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.8% ±3.3 pts | 23.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.6% ±2.1 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.4% ±2.0 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±0.7 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 Lake Wales earn?
Half of Lake Wales's 6,924 households earn less than $56,347 a year (±$7,706), against $65,978 in Polk County and $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 it was $54,379 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lake Wales | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,347 ±$7,706 | $65,978 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $66,110 ±$5,368 | $87,487 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,384 ±$2,216 | $33,249 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.4% ±4.3 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 30.3% ±11.0 pts | 21.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.1% ±4.2 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.9% ±3.6 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.6% ±4.9 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 Lake Wales?
Owners occupy 59.2% of Lake Wales's occupied homes and renters 40.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $239,300 by its owner (±$12,723). The median renter pays $1,110 a month including utilities, and 57.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lake Wales | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $239,300 ±$12,723 | $266,500 | +$33,282 |
| Median gross rent | $1,110 ±$79 | $1,363 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 57.1% ±9.4 pts | 44.9% | +19.4 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,504 ±$139 | $1,716 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.2% ±4.7 pts | 70.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.8% ±4.7 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Housing units | 8,223 ±513 | 340,748 | +1,048 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±1.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.1% ±3.2 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.3% ±4.3 pts | 62.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% ±1.6 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 11.0% ±2.9 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.7% ±1.6 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.9% ±4.8 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 Lake Wales building?
Builders took permits for 339 new housing units in Lake Wales in 2025 (306 in single-family houses), 18.2 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 Lake Wales work and get to work?
74.4% of Lake Wales's workers drive alone and 8.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.9%.
| Measure | Lake Wales | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 44.9% ±3.8 pts | 58.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% ±2.6 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.4% ±5.9 pts | 75.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.4% ±4.3 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.7% ±3.4 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.9 min ±2.0 | 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 Lake Wales?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Lake Wales, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $29,391 (Tract 143.01) to $73,947 (Tract 143.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 155Polk County | 4,701 | $36,315 |
| Tract 143.03Polk County | 3,732 | $73,947 |
| Tract 143.04Polk County | 2,646 | $46,827 |
| Tract 144.01Polk County | 8,698 | $64,188 |
| Tract 142.01Polk County | 5,560 | $50,591 |
| Tract 143.01Polk County | 1,885 | $29,391 |
| Tract 141.30Polk County | 3,666 | $55,077 |
| Tract 142.02Polk County | 3,456 | $84,250 |
| Tract 154.01Polk County | 3,052 | $47,432 |
| Tract 144.02Polk County | 955 | $34,079 |
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 Lake Wales) · Census block assignment files
How does Lake Wales compare with other places in Florida?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lake Wales is the 2,051st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 129th-most populous of 411 in Florida.
Lake Wales ranks 587th 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 | 129th | 411 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 49th | 328 |
| Residents per square mile | 603rd | 770 |
| Median household income | 587th | 754 |
| Per capita income | 592nd | 763 |
| Median home value | 568th | 749 |
| Median gross rent | 607th | 710 |
| Poverty rate | 88th | 634 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 535th | 733 |
| Median age | 380th | 762 |
| Owner-occupied share | 583rd | 760 |
| Work from home | 523rd | 596 |
| Travel time to work | 585th | 764 |
Lake Wales's figures with every place in Florida (CSV)
Every place in Florida, sortable · Compare Lake Wales 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 Lake Wales?
9 of the 57 figures for Lake Wales 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 Lake Wales 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 Lake Wales.