City · Tennessee
Lakeland, Tennessee
Lakeland, city, in Shelby County, Tennessee. Lakeland had 14,422 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 13,904 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 14,192 (±37). GEOID 4740350.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
14,422
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 13,904 · ACS 2020-2024: 14,192 ±37
Median household income
$116,250
±$9,144 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$388,900
±$16,723 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$1,755
±$294 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Lakeland and what county is it in?
Lakeland is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. It covers 23.5 square miles of land, 591 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lakeland is in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 9 counties (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 Lakeland, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 14,422 people lived in Lakeland on July 1, 2025, up 3.6% since 2020, slower than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020 Census counted 13,904 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 14,192 (±37).
| Measure | Lakeland | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,192 ±37 | 919,173 | +1,586 |
| Households | 5,313 ±360 | 362,741 | +1,165 |
| Average household size | 2.67 ±0.18 | 2.49 | −0.37 |
| Housing units | 5,519 ±361 | 404,333 | +1,283 |
Lakeland's population since 2000
From 6,862 in 2000 to 14,422 in 2025: up 110.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lakeland 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 Lakeland?
The median resident of Lakeland is 41.0 years old; 27.4% are under 18 and 16.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 69.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 12.7%. 11.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lakeland | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 ±3.1 | 35.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.4% ±2.1 pts | 25.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.7% ±2.7 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 49.6% ±3.0 pts | 47.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.6% ±3.1 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 69.5% ±4.7 pts | 32.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.7% ±3.4 pts | 52.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.0% ±2.7 pts | 2.9% | +3.0 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.5% ±2.9 pts | 7.9% | +5.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.3% ±4.1 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.1% ±2.2 pts | 5.9% | – |
| With a disability | 5.8% ±1.8 pts | 12.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9% ±1.9 pts | 12.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.9% ±1.4 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 53.1% ±5.9 pts | 34.3% | +10.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.3% ±4.6 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.3% ±3.8 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.0% ±2.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
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 Lakeland earn?
Half of Lakeland's 5,313 households earn less than $116,250 a year (±$9,144), against $63,767 in Shelby County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $126,853 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lakeland | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $116,250 ±$9,144 | $63,767 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $145,801 ±$15,508 | $96,640 | – |
| Per capita income | $56,035 ±$5,520 | $39,083 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.2% ±1.7 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.7% ±2.2 pts | 26.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.1% ±1.3 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7% ±1.7 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.4% ±2.8 pts | 89.6% | – |
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 Lakeland?
Owners occupy 79.2% of Lakeland's occupied homes and renters 20.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $388,900 by its owner (±$16,723). The median renter pays $1,755 a month including utilities, and 50.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lakeland | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $388,900 ±$16,723 | $249,100 | +$72,119 |
| Median gross rent | $1,755 ±$294 | $1,232 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.1% ±18.9 pts | 45.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,318 ±$206 | $1,682 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79.2% ±6.1 pts | 54.1% | −8.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 20.8% ±6.1 pts | 45.9% | – |
| Housing units | 5,519 ±361 | 404,333 | +1,283 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.5% ±5.5 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% ±1.9 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 7.0% ±3.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.7% ±4.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.8% ±1.2 pts | 8.2% | – |
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 Lakeland work and get to work?
80.1% of Lakeland's workers drive alone and 15.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.8%.
| Measure | Lakeland | Shelby County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.2% ±3.3 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% ±1.6 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.1% ±4.4 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.9% ±2.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.0% ±4.2 pts | 10.8% | +10.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.7 min ±1.6 | 22.3 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 Lakeland?
1 census tract lies mostly in Lakeland, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 208.36Shelby County | 8,516 | $155,978 |
| Tract 208.37Shelby County | 7,281 | $93,770 |
| Tract 211.42Shelby County | 2,994 | $79,934 |
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 Lakeland) · Census block assignment files
How does Lakeland compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lakeland is the 2,473rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 43rd-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Lakeland ranks 22nd of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 43rd | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 118th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 160th | 289 |
| Median household income | 22nd | 287 |
| Per capita income | 22nd | 289 |
| Median home value | 37th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 18th | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 234th | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17th | 276 |
| Median age | 137th | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 88th | 289 |
| Work from home | 51st | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 146th | 288 |
Lakeland's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Lakeland 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 Lakeland?
12 of the 57 figures for Lakeland 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 Lakeland 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 Lakeland.