Census tract · Polk County
Census Tract 155, Polk County, Florida
Census Tract 155, GEOID 12105015500, in Polk County, Florida, mostly within Lake Wales (80% of its census blocks). 4,701 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±583); the 2020 Census counted 4,876.
Residents, 2020-2024
4,701
±583 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 4,876
Median household income
$36,315
±$11,086 (90% margin)
Polk County: $65,978
Median home value
$181,400
±$43,224 (90% margin)
Polk County: $266,500
Median gross rent
$987
±$120 (90% margin)
Polk County: $1,363
Where is Census Tract 155?
Census Tract 155 is one of 174 census tracts in Polk County, Florida. It covers 4.17 square miles of land, 1,168 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 12105015500, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Lake Wales | 80% |
4 census tracts border Census Tract 155: Tract 143.01 ($29,391), Tract 143.04 ($46,827), Tract 144.02 ($34,079) and Tract 154.01 ($47,432). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 155?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 155's population at 4,701 (±583) in 1,937 households; the 2020 Census counted 4,876 residents and 2,065 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 155 | Lake Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,701 ±583 | 16,785 |
| Households | 1,937 ±280 | 6,924 |
| Average household size | 2.32 ±0.22 | 2.37 |
| Housing units | 2,244 ±276 | 8,223 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 155?
The median resident of Census Tract 155 is 37.6 years old; 20.5% are under 18 and 19.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 43.9%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 39.9%. 17.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 155 | Lake Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 ±6.5 | 42.7 |
| Under 18 years | 20.5% ±4.4 pts | 19.2% |
| 65 years and over | 19.8% ±4.3 pts | 26.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 43.9% ±8.0 pts | 30.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 39.9% ±8.1 pts | 44.3% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 14.3% ±6.9 pts | 21.8% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±2.0 pts | 1.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 1.8% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.0% |
| Born outside the United States | 17.5% ±5.9 pts | 10.4% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 34.8% ±6.2 pts | 25.8% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3% ±2.9 pts | 7.2% |
| With a disability | 19.7% ±4.7 pts | 16.8% |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.1% ±4.0 pts | 8.6% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.1% ±6.6 pts | 87.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.2% ±6.2 pts | 20.8% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.6% ±3.7 pts | 6.6% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.0% ±4.5 pts | 91.4% |
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 Census Tract 155 earn?
Half of the 1,937 households in Census Tract 155 earn less than $36,315 a year (±$11,086), against $65,978 across Polk County: 162nd highest of the county's 171 tracts with a reliable estimate. 30.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 155 | Lake Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $36,315 ±$11,086 | $56,347 |
| Mean household income | $52,055 ±$9,079 | $66,110 |
| Per capita income | $22,630 ±$3,407 | $28,384 |
| People below the poverty line | 30.4% ±8.5 pts | 22.4% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 39.3% ±20.3 pts | 30.3% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.9% ±7.8 pts | 23.1% |
| Households with a computer | 94.0% ±4.0 pts | 91.9% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.8% ±5.3 pts | 85.6% |
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 Census Tract 155?
Owners occupy 34.3% of Census Tract 155's occupied homes and renters 65.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $181,400 by its owner (±$43,224). The median renter pays $987 a month including utilities, and 43.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 155 | Lake Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $181,400 ±$43,224 | $239,300 |
| Median gross rent | $987 ±$120 | $1,110 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.5% ±12.8 pts | 57.1% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,324 ±$104 | $1,504 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 34.3% ±7.4 pts | 59.2% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 65.7% ±7.4 pts | 40.8% |
| Housing units | 2,244 ±276 | 8,223 |
| Single-family detached homes | 54.1% ±8.6 pts | 64.3% |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% ±2.6 pts | 5.5% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.6% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.7% ±4.2 pts | 11.0% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.8% ±5.1 pts | 3.7% |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.3% ±5.9 pts | 9.9% |
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 Census Tract 155 get to work?
83.3% of Census Tract 155's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Tract 155 | Lake Wales |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.8% ±5.8 pts | 44.9% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±3.7 pts | 5.9% |
| Drove alone to work | 83.3% ±9.0 pts | 74.4% |
| Carpooled | 12.5% ±7.7 pts | 13.4% |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 0.1% |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 0.6% |
| Worked from home | 1.2% ±1.4 pts | 8.7% |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min ±2.8 | 23.9 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
How does Census Tract 155 compare with the other tracts in Polk County?
Among Polk County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 155 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Polk County | In Lake Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 65th of 173 | 2nd of 8 |
| Residents per square mile | 97th of 174 | 3rd of 8 |
| Median household income | 162nd of 171 | 6th of 8 |
| Per capita income | 142nd of 173 | 6th of 8 |
| Median home value | 128th of 163 | 5th of 7 |
| Median gross rent | 136th of 163 | 6th of 8 |
| Poverty rate | 16th of 128 | 2nd of 6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 81st of 164 | 2nd of 8 |
| Median age | 107th of 173 | 6th of 8 |
| Owner-occupied share | 166th of 172 | 8th of 8 |
The tracts next to it on Polk County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 115.01 | 159th | $40,384±$9,183 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 109 | 160th | $38,906±$14,318 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 117.04 | 161st | $37,702±$8,441 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 155 | 162nd | $36,315±$11,086 |
| Tract 160.03 | 163rd | $36,250±$5,352 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 133 | 164th | $35,625±$8,945 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 112.03 | 165th | $34,653±$9,871 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 155?
2 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 155 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.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections