About Lakeland, FL

In the heart of central Florida, lakes are abundant, and right smack dab in the middle is the lovely Lakeland community. The area became an official city in 1885 when it was incorporated. Abraham Munn was the founder, and in the beginning, the town was about 40 acres, which is nowadays the renovated downtown area.

The 2020 U.S. Census counted the population as 112,641. That is a terrific size for a small town—just big enough to have all the big city amenities and small enough to get to know your neighbors.

The town and its surrounding area are known as the World's Citrus Center because they produce about 25% of all citrus in America.

What To Do in Lakeland, FL

Lakeland is a favored place for boating and fishing, with 38 lakes.

• Downtown: The Munn Park Historic District is in the center of the town. There is the Explorations V Children's Museum, which is fun for a family to visit. Enjoy Lake Mirror and the park next to it. Events are held in the Lake Mirror Auditorium. Stroll through the Hollis Garden and perhaps enjoy a picnic. In the mood for a steak? Try the Texas Cattle Company.
• Outdoor Exploration: For great fishing and outdoor fun, start with the largest lake, Lake Parker, and then visit the other popular lakes, such as Lake Hollingsworth, Lake Morton, Lake Mirror, and Lake Gibson.
• Local Specialty Dining: If you come back from fishing with a bunch of fish, take them to a local restaurant and have them cooked up in a fantastic family fish fry. It's all fun and good eating; someone else must clean up the mess. The staff are professionals, so they don't mind.
• Destination: Colt Creek State Park is in Lakeland. This Florida State Park is at the beginning of the Green Swamp. There are plenty of wild animals to observe, and birdwatching is fun. Just watch out for the alligators. You are welcome to camp at the campsite, and there are hook-ups for RVs. Bring your horse in a trailer to ride on the extensive 15 miles of horse trails.
• Community Events: Check out the calendar of local events. Something is always happening, and the town puts on a bash for significant holidays, especially New Year's and the Fourth of July.

Working in Lakeland, FL

Lakeland's economy benefits from healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and education. It is the headquarters for the Publix Supermarket chain. The unemployment rate is 4.4%, slightly higher than the national average of 4.2%. The median household annual income is $58,524 annually, which is about $10,500 less than the American average of $69,021.

The economy is growing much faster than the national average. Lakeland's predicted job growth rate for the next ten years is 42.5%, compared to the national rate, which is estimated to be 33.5%.

The industries in the Lakeland area include healthcare (9.2%), education (8.8%), hospitality (7.4%), food & beverage stores (5.6%), construction (5.5%), administrative support/waste management services (5.1%), and governmental administration (5.1%).

Lakeland, FL Neighborhoods

Lakeland has many lovely lakes throughout the community. Here are the neighborhoods with luxury homes and lakefront properties:

• Downtown Lakeland / Historic Lake Morton: Lake Morton is the prominent feature in the center of this neighborhood. The median real estate price is $568,927, which is higher than 70.3% of other communities in Florida. Most of the properties are rental units. The average rent is $1,323. The vacancy rate is 21.9%, so it is easy to find an available place.
• Lake Hollingsworth East: This neighborhood is southeast of Florida Southern College. Its western border is Lake Hollingsworth. The median real estate sales price is $551,238. The average rental price is $1,587. The vacancy rate is 11.4%.
• Lake Hollingsworth / Lake Bentley: This neighborhood is around the lakeshore on the western side of Lake Hollingsworth. The median price for a home is $539,725. The average rent is $1,848. The vacancy rate is 17.7%.
• Highland City West: The median sales price for a home is $525,669. The average rent is $2,210. The vacancy rate is 9.6%.

Lakeland, FL School District

Polk County Public Schools administers public schools. The school district invests $12,580 annually per student. The student-to-teacher ratio is high, at 18 to one.

Lakeland has 31 private schools. The top-ranked private schools are Excel Christian Academy (NS to 12th), Lakeland Christian School (PK to 12th), and St. Paul Lutheran School (PK to 8th).

There are three colleges in this town and 27 others within 50 miles. The local colleges are Florida Southern College (private, four-year), Southeastern University (private, four-year), and Florida Polytechnic University (public, four-year).

Moving to Lakeland, FL Resource Guide

The municipal government has an elected mayor and six elected members serving on the City Council.

The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department manages all the public parks, such as Barnett Family Park. There are dog parks, disc golf, swimming pools, Cleveland Heights Golf Course, and the Coleman Bush community center. There are summer camps, classes, many events, and dance, fitness, and athletic programs to enjoy.

Lakeland, FL Housing

The median price is $347,000. The price trend is about the same as the previous year, with no increase. The housing market is a buyer's market with more homes listed for sale than the potential buyers. Housing costs are 6% less than the national average. The cost of living is 2% higher than other Florida cities and 4% less than the national average.