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.

Lakeland, FL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

119,961

Median Agei

38.9

Race & Ethnicityi

White

54.9%65,813

Hispanic/Latino

20.5%24,562

Black

17.9%21,447

Two or More

3.2%3,894

Asian

2.5%3,046

Other

0.9%1,070

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%71

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%58

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.4%3,574

High School Diploma

27.1%22,300

Some College (<1 yr)

7.7%6,287

Some College (1+ yr)

13%10,713

Associate's Degree

9.9%8,098

Bachelor's Degree

18.4%15,136

Master's Degree

7.5%6,129

Professional Degree

2.1%1,696

Doctorate

1.5%1,227

HS or Higher

91.5%

BA or Higher

29.4%

Graduate+

11%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$249,400

Median Renti

$1,395

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

56.4%26,956

Renter-Occupied

43.6%20,860

Total Units

54,896

Homeownership

56.4%

Vacancy Rate

12.9%

Home Values

Under $50K

15.3%4,130

$50K–$100K

7.4%2,003

$100K–$150K

5.4%1,455

$150K–$200K

8.7%2,348

$200K–$300K

26%7,005

$300K–$500K

28.5%7,677

$500K–$1M

7.6%2,050

$1M+

1.1%288

Rent Distribution

Under $500

928

$500–$750

926

$750–$1,000

2,236

$1,000–$1,250

3,959

$1,250–$1,500

3,470

$1,500–$2,000

5,920

$2,000+

2,697

Year Built

2020 or later

2.9%1,604

2010–2019

9.5%5,222

2000–2009

14.2%7,811

1990–1999

10.5%5,783

1980–1989

17.9%9,800

1970–1979

18.3%10,065

1960–1969

9.6%5,276

1950–1959

8.5%4,644

1940–1949

3%1,630

1939 or earlier

5.6%3,061

Heating Fuel

Electricity

94.4%45,121

Utility Gas

3.6%1,715

No Fuel

1.2%567

Bottled/LP Gas

0.6%310

Coal

0.1%50

Solar

0.1%25

Fuel Oil

0%19

Other

0%9

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$64,185

Mean Household Incomei

$86,244

Per Capita Incomei

$35,902

Poverty Ratei

12.3%

Unemploymenti

4.5%

Labor Forcei

56,867

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

5.7%2,716

$10K–$15K

4.1%1,944

$15K–$20K

4.2%1,995

$20K–$25K

3.4%1,634

$25K–$30K

4.1%1,953

$30K–$35K

4.7%2,261

$35K–$40K

4.6%2,207

$40K–$45K

4.3%2,036

$45K–$50K

3.9%1,870

$50K–$60K

7%3,340

$60K–$75K

12.8%6,139

$75K–$100K

14.1%6,749

$100K–$125K

8.6%4,129

$125K–$150K

5.1%2,460

$150K–$200K

7.1%3,397

$200K+

6.2%2,986

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

1,620

Residentsi

2,861

Avg. Tenant Renti

$415/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

25 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing235 homes93% occupied$406/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers782 homes79% occupied$479/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 8355 homes95% occupied$299/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC126 homes97% occupied$364/mo rent

811/PRAC5 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $64,185/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $19K/yr

71.8%

Very low income$19K–$32K/yr

21.8%

Low income$32K–$51K/yr

5.7%

Moderate / aboveOver $51K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

79% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

80% of subsidized households are minority

20.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

47.3% 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

12,98210.8%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,112

Canada

611

India

511

Philippines

455

United Kingdom

356

Guatemala

342

China

326

Germany

171

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

53,440

Avg. Commutei

23.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

54,111

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

7,896(8.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

89.4%Insured

10.6%Uninsured