Median Age
42 Years
Largest Age Group
10-19 Years
Approximately 13% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
26%
Lake Wales
Lake Wales, FL Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,201
Population
18,742
Renter Mix
40% Rent
Timeless charm and natural beauty in the heart of Central Florida
Rural
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Lake
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Nature
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Outdoors
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Agriculture
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Affordable
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Lake Wales is a small city in the center of the Florida peninsula, positioned about thirty miles east of Lakeland and fifty miles south of Orlando. The community is perhaps best known for the historic Bok Tower Gardens, a lush public botanical garden surrounding a beautiful 1920s mansion and anchored by the ethereal Singing Tower.
Highway 27 serves as the main commercial corridor through Lake Wales, with several small shopping centers clustered along this route including the popular Eagle Ridge Mall near the north side of town. Rental rates in town tend to be quite affordable, with a diverse selection of apartments, condos, and single-family homes available throughout the city and in the surrounding area.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$48,056
Average: $61,320
Education
3,673
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
7,287
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Lake Wales has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
40%
Non-Renters
60%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
15%
Other Education
85%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Lake Wales, FL is $1,041 for a studio, $1,197 for one bedroom, $1,463 for two bedrooms, and $1,783 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Lake Wales has decreased by -10.4% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,197/month
742 Sq Ft
House
$1,857/month
1,439 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Lake Wales, FL is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
20
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
662 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
448 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
531 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
584 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
298 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
615 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
611 Students
Mclaughlin Middle School And Fine Arts Academy
Public
Grades 6-12
542 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
283 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
298 Students
Public
Grades PK & 9-12
1,586 Students
Mclaughlin Middle School And Fine Arts Academy
Public
Grades 6-12
542 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
283 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
298 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Bok Tower Gardens
- Street Nature Center
- Ridge Audubon Center
- Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park
Top Apartments in Lake Wales
Houses for Rent in Lake Wales
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.