Signals
Lake Wales
Highland City
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 22%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Climate
79 · Top 19%
vs79 · Top 19%
Physical resilience
20 · Bottom 14%
vs20 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 38%
vs72 · Bottom 36%
Access
90 · Bottom 41%
vs100 · Top 1%
Economic stability
21 · Bottom 2%
vs74 · Top 20%
Measured values
| Metric | Lake Wales | Highland City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,785 | 13,276 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $56,347 | $90,947 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,384 | $40,407 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 827/sq mi | 1,684/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $239,300 | $347,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,110 | $1,993 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.2% | 79.3% | 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% | 33.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 5.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| 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 | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.7 | 39.2 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Highland City
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Your best match
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Lake Wales
52
Your Score
49
Area Score
Highland City
67
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Lake Wales, FL · Highland City, FL · How this is calculated: methodology