Signals
Winter Haven
Lakeland Highlands
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 28%
vs58 · Top 45%
Climate
79 · Top 19%
vs79 · Top 19%
Physical resilience
20 · Bottom 13%
vs20 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability
67 · Bottom 29%
vs92 · Top 28%
Schools
25 · Bottom 17%
vs60 · Top 39%
Access
95 · Top 37%
vs100 · Top 1%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 13%
vs71 · Top 26%
Measured values
| Metric | Winter Haven | Lakeland Highlands | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,200 | 12,102 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,648 | $108,263 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,632 | $56,299 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,661/sq mi | 2,489/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $269,800 | $385,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,246 | $1,704 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 84.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% | 5.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 44.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 2.7% | 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 | 18 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 26.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.1 | 45.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.05 | 17.95 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 44.9% | 62.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 45.5% | 57.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 67.6% | 50.6% | 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
Winter Haven
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Lakeland Highlands
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Your best match
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Winter Haven
55
Your Score
51
Area Score
Lakeland Highlands
69
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Winter Haven, FL · Lakeland Highlands, FL · How this is calculated: methodology