Ocala and Lakeland-Winter Haven receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Ocala | Lakeland-Winter Haven | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 400,078 | 790,694 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,010 | $65,978 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,539 | $33,249 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 252/sq mi | 440/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $243,100 | $266,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,277 | $1,363 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.5% | 70.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 5.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 23.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 14.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,645 | 6,845 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.1 | 8.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -11.0% | -28.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 52°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.6" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 57 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 32.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.9 | 39.5 | 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
Ocala
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
Lakeland-Winter Haven
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Ocala, FL Metro Area · Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology