Lakeland-Winter Haven vs Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach
Which is the better fit for you?
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Lakeland-Winter Haven | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 790,694 | 383,016 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,978 | $66,880 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,249 | $38,025 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 440/sq mi | 338/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $266,500 | $287,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,363 | $1,255 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.5% | 77.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 27.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 13.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 6,845 | 6,171 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 16.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -28.7% | -11.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 48.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 16 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.5 | 48.7 | 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
Lakeland-Winter Haven
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metro Area · Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology