Bartow receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lake Wales
Bartow
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 22%
vs47 · Bottom 31%
Growth
68 · Top 20%
vs63 · Top 28%
Climate
79 · Top 19%
vs79 · Top 19%
Physical resilience
20 · Bottom 14%
vs20 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 38%
vs90 · Top 31%
Schools
20 · Bottom 11%
vs24 · Bottom 16%
Access
90 · Bottom 41%
vs97 · Top 22%
Economic stability
21 · Bottom 2%
vs47 · Bottom 27%
Measured values
| Metric | Lake Wales | Bartow | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,785 | 20,438 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $56,347 | $68,178 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,384 | $33,475 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 827/sq mi | 440/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $239,300 | $234,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,110 | $1,142 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.2% | 65.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 5.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 22.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 18.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 329 | 234 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 19.6 | 11.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -30.0% | -49.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 52°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 26 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 27.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.7 | 36.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.40 | 18.69 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 40.1% | 40.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 40.5% | 47.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 75.6% | 59.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lake Wales
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Bartow
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lake Wales
52
Your Score
49
Area Score
Bartow
59
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lake Wales, FL · Bartow, FL · How this is calculated: methodology