Lakeland

The city of Lakeland is known for its historic neighborhoods and distinctive architecture.
Residents enjoy the various store choices at Lakeland Park Center
Play a round at Highland Fairways Golf & Country Club.
Walking Trails at Aerial of Douglas M. Cook Park
Horse farmers enjoy the wide open and spacious lots in the City of Lakeland neighborhood.

Lakeland, FL Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,335

Population

121,426

Renter Mix

45% Rent

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.

Explore the City

Play a round at Highland Fairways Golf & Country Club.

Walking Trails at Aerial of Douglas M. Cook Park

Horse farmers enjoy the wide open and spacious lots in the City of Lakeland neighborhood.

Cyclists cruise along the path around Lake Hollingsworth.

The Famous Majestic Swans of Lake Morton are Lakelands most Iconic Symbol.

Lakeland's seven historic districts, are flanked by canopies of mature Camphor trees.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$54,511

Average: $73,663

Education

26,772

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

53,201

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

39 Years

Largest Age Group

25-34 Years

Approximately 15% of Residents

Under 20

23%

Over 65

21%

Housing Distribution

Lakeland has more homeowners than renters.

Renters
45%
Non-Renters
55%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
18%
Other Education
82%

Rent Trends

As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Lakeland, FL is $1,045 for a studio, $1,338 for one bedroom, $1,569 for two bedrooms, and $1,843 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Lakeland has increased by 0.3% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,338/month
724 Sq Ft
House
$1,974/month
1,426 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,276/month
718 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,551/month
1,178 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Lakeland, FL

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

McKeel Elementary Academy

Public

Grades PK-5

610 Students

Lincoln Avenue Academy

Public

Grades K-5

526 Students

Cleveland Court Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

393 Students

Magnolia Montessori Academy

Public

Grades K-8

171 Students

Lakeland Montessori School House

Public

Grades K-5

110 Students

Magnolia Montessori Academy

Public

Grades K-8

171 Students

McKeel Academy Of Technology

Public

Grades 6-12

1,727 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

Polk State College Collegiate High School

Public

Grades 9-12

353 Students

McKeel Academy Of Technology

Public

Grades 6-12

1,727 Students

George W. Jenkins Senior High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,451 Students

Lakeland Senior High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,043 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 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.