City profile
Lake Wales, FL
Polk County · Population 16,785
Lake Wales is a town in Polk County, FL with about 16,785 residents and a typical home value near $239,000. It is 45 miles from Orlando, FL, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
63°F
Summer avg
84°F
Sunny days / yr
233
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$239,300
Typical monthly housing
$1,473
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
86
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.87%
- State income tax (top)
- None
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Not taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 7.00%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 97/100
Top hazards: Strong wind, Lightning, Hurricane
Nearest major airport
39 mi to Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 39% Democratic / 60% Republican
Community
Population
16,785
Black population
21.8%
County
Polk County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hurricanes, flooding
Highlights
- About 16,785 residents
- Typical home value about $239,000
- 45 miles from Orlando, FL
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.