City · Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven, city, in Polk County, Florida. Winter Haven had 62,313 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 23.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 49,219 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 55,200 (±54). GEOID 1278275.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
62,313
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 49,219 · ACS 2020-2024: 55,200 ±54
Median household income
$59,648
±$3,654 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$269,800
±$11,473 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,246
±$80 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
Where is Winter Haven and what county is it in?
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida. It covers 33.2 square miles of land, 1,481 residents per square mile in 2020.
Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 62,313 people lived in Winter Haven on July 1, 2025, up 23.9% since 2020, faster than Florida (+8.9%). The 2020 Census counted 49,219 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 55,200 (±54).
| Measure | Winter Haven | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 55,200 ±54 | 790,694 | +13,952 |
| Households | 20,396 ±809 | 289,425 | +4,876 |
| Average household size | 2.67 ±0.11 | 2.68 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 23,431 ±890 | 340,748 | +4,685 |
Winter Haven's population since 2000
From 26,487 in 2000 to 62,313 in 2025: up 135.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven?
The median resident of Winter Haven is 40.1 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 41.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 27.8%. 13.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Winter Haven | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 ±2.4 | 39.5 | −4.0 |
| Under 18 years | 21.4% ±1.8 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.3% ±1.4 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 47.1% ±1.6 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.4% ±3.5 pts | 29.2% | +8.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 41.5% ±2.8 pts | 50.8% | −13.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 27.8% ±3.3 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.6 pts | 1.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±1.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.3% ±2.6 pts | 12.6% | +6.5 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 27.5% ±2.9 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3% ±1.1 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 13.3% ±1.3 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.4% ±2.2 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.5% ±2.2 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.0% ±2.3 pts | 23.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.3% ±1.2 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.5% ±3.5 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.6% ±1.8 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 Winter Haven earn?
Half of Winter Haven's 20,396 households earn less than $59,648 a year (±$3,654), against $65,978 in Polk County and $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 it was $57,435 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Winter Haven | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,648 ±$3,654 | $65,978 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,841 ±$5,112 | $87,487 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,632 ±$1,884 | $33,249 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.4% ±2.9 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.3% ±6.7 pts | 21.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.0% ±2.7 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.3% ±1.3 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.7% ±2.3 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 Winter Haven?
Owners occupy 63.7% of Winter Haven's occupied homes and renters 36.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $269,800 by its owner (±$11,473). The median renter pays $1,246 a month including utilities, and 52.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Winter Haven | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $269,800 ±$11,473 | $266,500 | +$80,150 |
| Median gross rent | $1,246 ±$80 | $1,363 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.6% ±5.9 pts | 44.9% | +10.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,673 ±$57 | $1,716 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.7% ±2.9 pts | 70.5% | +4.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.3% ±2.9 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Housing units | 23,431 ±890 | 340,748 | +4,685 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.7% ±2.1 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.6% ±2.9 pts | 62.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.2% ±1.4 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.8% ±1.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 17.8% ±2.3 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.4% ±1.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.0% ±1.8 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 Winter Haven building?
Builders took permits for 1,036 new housing units in Winter Haven in 2025 (744 in single-family houses), 16.6 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 Winter Haven work and get to work?
80.2% of Winter Haven's workers drive alone and 9.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.
| Measure | Winter Haven | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.2% ±2.6 pts | 58.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.2% ±2.9 pts | 75.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.1% ±1.8 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.7% ±2.0 pts | 12.4% | +6.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.4 min ±1.8 | 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 Winter Haven?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Winter Haven, and 18 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $26,783 (Tract 137.01) to $81,620 (Tract 128.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 137.02Polk County | 6,121 | $49,942 |
| Tract 136.02Polk County | 4,751 | $44,772 |
| Tract 138.02Polk County | 6,836 | $50,239 |
| Tract 144.01Polk County | 8,698 | $64,188 |
| Tract 128.02Polk County | 5,782 | $81,620 |
| Tract 139.01Polk County | 2,976 | $43,333 |
| Tract 139.02Polk County | 5,766 | $77,237 |
| Tract 135Polk County | 3,436 | $64,207 |
| Tract 141.23Polk County | 7,500 | $70,395 |
| Tract 128.04Polk County | 7,224 | $61,966 |
| Tract 138.01Polk County | 4,377 | $51,096 |
| Tract 137.01Polk County | 1,976 | $26,783 |
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 Winter Haven) · Census block assignment files
How does Winter Haven compare with other places in Florida?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Winter Haven is the 646th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 51st-most populous of 411 in Florida.
Winter Haven ranks 547th 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 | 51st | 411 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 20th | 328 |
| Residents per square mile | 471st | 770 |
| Median household income | 547th | 754 |
| Per capita income | 549th | 763 |
| Median home value | 521st | 749 |
| Median gross rent | 543rd | 710 |
| Poverty rate | 185th | 634 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 508th | 733 |
| Median age | 490th | 762 |
| Owner-occupied share | 521st | 760 |
| Work from home | 496th | 596 |
| Travel time to work | 325th | 764 |
Winter Haven's figures with every place in Florida (CSV)
Every place in Florida, sortable · Compare Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven?
5 of the 57 figures for Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven.