Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Lake Wales, FL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

16,785

Median Agei

42.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

44.3%7,436

Hispanic/Latino

30.8%5,178

Black

21.8%3,652

Two or More

1.8%299

Asian

1.1%186

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%34

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.2%643

High School Diploma

26.8%3,299

Some College (<1 yr)

9.7%1,192

Some College (1+ yr)

14.3%1,764

Associate's Degree

10.6%1,299

Bachelor's Degree

14.2%1,749

Master's Degree

5.6%684

Professional Degree

0.9%107

Doctorate

0.2%22

HS or Higher

87.5%

BA or Higher

20.8%

Graduate+

6.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$239,300

Median Renti

$1,110

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

59.2%4,099

Renter-Occupied

40.8%2,825

Total Units

8,223

Homeownership

59.2%

Vacancy Rate

15.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

3.6%149

$50K–$100K

13.8%564

$100K–$150K

8.2%338

$150K–$200K

8.3%340

$200K–$300K

34.2%1,402

$300K–$500K

24.5%1,005

$500K–$1M

6.1%248

$1M+

1.3%53

Rent Distribution

Under $500

336

$500–$750

184

$750–$1,000

524

$1,000–$1,250

741

$1,250–$1,500

443

$1,500–$2,000

364

$2,000+

148

Year Built

2020 or later

0.6%49

2010–2019

11%904

2000–2009

27.3%2,248

1990–1999

12.6%1,034

1980–1989

11.4%936

1970–1979

14.3%1,180

1960–1969

6.2%513

1950–1959

9.4%770

1940–1949

3.5%284

1939 or earlier

3.7%305

Heating Fuel

Electricity

93.2%6,451

Utility Gas

3.1%214

No Fuel

2.6%178

Bottled/LP Gas

0.6%45

Solar

0.5%36

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$56,347

Mean Household Incomei

$66,110

Per Capita Incomei

$28,384

Poverty Ratei

21.9%

Unemploymenti

5.9%

Labor Forcei

6,237

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

9.6%662

$10K–$15K

8.4%583

$15K–$20K

5.1%350

$20K–$25K

5.5%378

$25K–$30K

5.2%361

$30K–$35K

4.4%307

$35K–$40K

3.1%214

$40K–$45K

2.4%167

$45K–$50K

2.8%193

$50K–$60K

7%483

$60K–$75K

9.6%668

$75K–$100K

15.3%1,056

$100K–$125K

11.6%803

$125K–$150K

2.8%194

$150K–$200K

5.7%392

$200K+

1.6%113

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

348

Residentsi

771

Avg. Tenant Renti

$378/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

27 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing172 homes84% occupied$337/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers89 homes78% occupied$515/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 887 homes95% occupied$318/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $56,347/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $17K/yr

73.9%

Very low income$17K–$28K/yr

17.3%

Low income$28K–$45K/yr

7.3%

Moderate / aboveOver $45K/yr

1.5%

Who Receives This Housing

89% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

92.5% of subsidized households are minority

15% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

22.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1,75410.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

469

United Kingdom

153

Philippines

Canada

Guatemala

China

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

5,710

Avg. Commutei

23.9 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

5,842

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

972(7.2% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

91.4%Insured

8.6%Uninsured