Lakeland

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Lakeland, FL

Area Guide

Central Florida’s hidden gem between Tampa and Orlando

Suburban Affordable Historic Lakefront Active

Located in central Florida between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland features 38 lakes throughout the city, including Lake Morton, where visitors can spot swans descended from a 1957 gift from Queen Elizabeth II. Downtown Lakeland preserves its historic character, highlighted by Florida Southern College's collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings - the largest single-site collection of his work worldwide. The rental market offers various housing options, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,309, reflecting a 0.37% decrease from the previous year.

The Lake-to-Lakes Trail system and 1,267-acre Circle B Bar Reserve provide outdoor recreation opportunities. Cultural attractions include the Polk Museum of Art and the restored Polk Theatre. The city's location along I-4 provides convenient access to both Tampa and Orlando. Historic areas include the Dixieland and South Lake Morton districts, characterized by oak-canopied streets. Florida Southern College and Florida Polytechnic University contribute to the local educational landscape. Major employers include Publix Super Markets' corporate headquarters, Amazon, and GEICO. Two-bedroom apartments currently average $1,565, representing competitive rates for the region.

Rent Trends

As of January 2026, the average apartment rent in Lakeland, FL is $991 for a studio, $1,317 for one bedroom, $1,551 for two bedrooms, and $1,887 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Lakeland has decreased by -0.1% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,317/month
722 Sq Ft
House
$1,980/month
1,408 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,422/month
885 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,670/month
1,289 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Lakeland, FL

Transportation

41

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

1

Minimal Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

52

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Lincoln Avenue Academy

Public

Grades K-5

526 Students

Cleveland Court Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

393 Students

Highlands Grove Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

731 Students

Valleyview Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

861 Students

Winston Academy of Engineering

Public

Grades PK-5

506 Students

Lawton Chiles Middle Academy

Public

Grades 6-8

649 Students

Rochelle School Of The Arts

Public

Grades PK-8

803 Students

Lakeland Highlands Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,265 Students

Southwest Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

801 Students

Lake Gibson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,218 Students

George W. Jenkins Senior High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,451 Students

Lakeland Senior High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,043 Students

Lake Gibson Senior High School

Public

Grades PK & 9-12

2,080 Students

Kathleen Senior High School

Public

Grades PK & 9-12

2,051 Students

Tenoroc High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,127 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Lakeland

Houses for Rent in Lakeland

Property Management Companies in Lakeland, FL

Search Nearby Rentals

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 November 2025.