Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lakeland, FL vs Winter Haven, FL
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lakeland needs about $81,000 in Winter Haven to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Winter Haven, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $89,000 in Lakeland.
A few differences
- Lakeland is higher on median household income ($64,185 vs $59,648).
- Winter Haven is lower on cost of living index (92 vs 93).
- Winter Haven is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,207/mo vs $1,355/mo).
Lakeland vs Winter Haven · facet by facet
| Facet | Lakeland, FL | Winter Haven, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $249,400 | $269,800 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,355/mo | $1,207/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| State & local income tax | 0% | 0% |
| Sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Cost of living index | 93 | 92 |
| Groceries index | 103 | 103 |
| Utilities | $180/mo | $180/mo |
| Median household income | $64,185 | $59,648 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 240 days | 240 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lakeland, FL · Winter Haven, FL
Questions & answers
- Is Lakeland cheaper than Winter Haven?
- Winter Haven has the lower day-to-day cost index (92 vs 93 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Winter Haven equals $85,000 in Lakeland?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lakeland needs about $81,000 in Winter Haven to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Winter Haven lifestyle costs about $89,000 in Lakeland.