Lake Wales, FL
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Lake Wales, Florida Summary

Life in Lake Wales research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Lake Wales over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Lake Wales:

  • The population in Lake Wales is 16,365.

  • The median home value in Lake Wales is $244,807.

  • The median income in Lake Wales is $55,799.

  • The cost of living in Lake Wales is 98 which is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Lake Wales is $1,060.

  • The unemployment rate in Lake Wales is 6.3%.

  • The poverty rate in Lake Wales is 24.4%.

  • The average high in Lake Wales is 83.9° and the average low is 61.8°.

Lake Wales SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
9.5
Safety
6
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
8

Lake Wales, FL Crime Report

Crime in Lake Wales summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Lake Wales. Key points include:

  • There were 298 total crimes in Lake Wales in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Lake Wales is 1,772.4 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Lake Wales is 243.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Lake Wales is 1,528.6 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Lake Wales is -16.36% below the national average.

298
Total Crimes
-16.36%
Below National Average

Crime In Lake Wales Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Lake Wales
/ 100k People
Florida
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 298 1,772.4 1,687.5 2,119.2
Violent Crime 41 243.9 267.1 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 3.9 5.0
Robbery 3 17.8 38.2 61.0
Aggravated Assault 34 202.2 197.1 256.0
Property Crime 257 1,528.6 1,420.4 1,760.0
Burglary 32 190.3 152.5 229.0
Larceny 200 1,189.6 1,144.9 1,272.0
Car Theft 25 148.7 123.0 259.0

Lake Wales, FL Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Lake Wales summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Lake Wales. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Florida. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Lake Wales is 98 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Lake Wales is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Lake Wales is $244,807.

  • The median income in Lake Wales is $55,799.

98
Lake Wales's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Lake Wales Comparison Table

Living Expense Lake Wales Florida National Average
Overall 98 97 100
Services 101 96 100
Groceries 100 99 100
Health 91 98 100
Housing 97 96 100
Transportation 94 97 100
Utilities 91 95 100

Lake Wales, FL Weather

  • The average high in Lake Wales is 83.9° and the average low is 61.8°.

  • There are 76.2 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 49.4 inches of precipitation each year with 0.0 inches of snow.

StatLake Wales
Average Annual High83.9
Average Annual Low61.8
Annual Precipitation Days76.2
Average Annual Precipitation49.4
Average Annual Snowfall0.0
83.9°
Average High
76.2
Days of Rain

Lake Wales, FL Photos

Lake Wales Bullard House
Source: Wikipedia User Ebyabe | CC BY-SA 2.5
Spookhill
Source: Wikipedia User Averette at English Wikip | CC BY 3.0

Rankings for Lake Wales in Florida

Locations Around Lake Wales

Map Of Lake Wales, FL

Best Places Around Lake Wales

1

Highland, IL
Population 10,268

2

Bartow, FL
Population 19,801

3

Auburndale, FL
Population 17,438

4

Winter Haven, FL
Population 52,846

5

Poinciana, FL
Population 71,665

Lake Wales Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Lake Wales

The current population in Lake Wales is 16,365. The population has increased 17.9% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 16,365 -0.5%
2022 16,455 1.7%
2021 16,173 -2.1%
2020 16,515 3.0%
2019 16,035 1.9%
2018 15,735 2.2%
2017 15,401 1.3%
2016 15,206 1.9%
2015 14,929 1.8%
2014 14,665 1.3%
2013 14,480 1.5%
2012 14,268 1.3%
2011 14,078 1.4%
2010 13,884 -

Race / Ethnicity in Lake Wales

White
47.6% (7,787)
African American
19.2% (3,140)
American Indian
0.3% (46)
Asian
0.7% (111)
Hawaiian
0.0% (6)
Other
0.2% (30)
Two Or More
1.4% (221)
Hispanic
30.7% (5,024)

Lake Wales is:

  • 47.6% White with 7,787 White residents.

  • 19.2% African American with 3,140 African American residents.

  • 0.3% American Indian with 46 American Indian residents.

  • 0.7% Asian with 111 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 6 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 30 Other residents.

  • 1.4% Two Or More with 221 Two Or More residents.

  • 30.7% Hispanic with 5,024 Hispanic residents.

Race Lake Wales FL USA
White 47.6% 51.4% 58.2%
African American 19.2% 14.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.3% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 0.7% 2.8% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.6% 0.5%
Two Or More 1.4% 3.5% 3.9%
Hispanic 30.7% 26.7% 19.0%

Gender in Lake Wales

Female
52.4% (8,572)
Male
47.6% (7,793)
  • Lake Wales is 52.4% female with 8,572 female residents.

  • Lake Wales is 47.6% male with 7,793 male residents.

Gender Lake Wales FL USA
Female 52.4% 50.9% 50.5%
Male 47.6% 49.1% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Lake Wales for adults over 25

  • 6.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed < 9th grade.

  • 7.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed 9-12th grade.

  • 33.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed high school / ged.

  • 24.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed associate's degree.

  • 14.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed bachelor's degree.

  • 6.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed professional degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Lake Wales completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
6.0% (981)
9-12th Grade
7.0% (1,145)
High School / GED
33.0% (5,400)
Some College
24.0% (3,927)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (1,472)
Bachelor's Degree
14.0% (2,291)
Master's Degree
6.0% (981)
Professional Degree
1.0% (163)
Doctorate Degree
0.0% (0)
Education Lake Wales FL USA
< 9th Grade 6.0% 5.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 7.0% 6.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 33.0% 27.0% 26.0%
Some College 24.0% 19.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 14.0% 21.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 6.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 0.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Lake Wales, Florida

  • 9.2% of households in Lake Wales earn Less than $10,000.

  • 8.8% of households in Lake Wales earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 13.3% of households in Lake Wales earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 7.9% of households in Lake Wales earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 8.4% of households in Lake Wales earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 15.2% of households in Lake Wales earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 15.8% of households in Lake Wales earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 13.6% of households in Lake Wales earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 5.3% of households in Lake Wales earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 2.5% of households in Lake Wales earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
9.2% (150,428)
$10,000 to $14,999
8.8% (143,193)
$15,000 to $24,999
13.3% (218,033)
$25,000 to $34,999
7.9% (128,974)
$35,000 to $49,999
8.4% (137,456)
$50,000 to $74,999
15.2% (248,967)
$75,000 to $99,999
15.8% (258,447)
$100,000 to $149,999
13.6% (223,023)
$150,000 to $199,999
5.3% (86,814)
$200,000 or more
2.5% (41,161)
Income Lake Wales FL USA
Less than $10,000 9.2% 5.1% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 8.8% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 13.3% 7.0% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 7.9% 7.7% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 8.4% 11.6% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 15.2% 17.3% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 15.8% 13.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 13.6% 16.8% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 5.3% 8.0% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 2.5% 10.1% 12.6%

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