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INFINITE MOVING • October 19, 2023

Living in and Moving to Lakeland, Florida

Want to know the wonderful aspects of living in Lakeland, Florida?

It would be impossible to list all the wonderful aspects of living in Lakeland. However, we are going to give you all the highlights of living in Lakeland, Florida.

Lakeland is a city located in the heart of central Florida along the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando. The biggest city in Polk County, Lakeland reflects a historic character full of heritage, volunteerism, and philanthropy and offers something for everyone. Downtown of the growing Lakeland is thriving, giving every resident and all visitors a true sense of belonging with a phenomenal food scene, food truck rallies, a farmers market, and more.

The people of Lakeland take pride in their community which is located right between two of Florida’s biggest cities, Tampa and Orlando.

Reasons to Move to Lakeland, Florida

The city of Lakeland possesses more than 1,600 historic buildings, seven historic districts, and 13 individual historic landmarks and connects its past by the enthusiastic preservation of the tree- and brick-lined streets. It hosts the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the entire world.

As Lakeland is located in the middle of the state, it is close to all of the major attractions and vacation destinations in the area. This will save you loads of money each year on airline tickets and other travel expenses and you can put it to pay off some debt, or towards your child’s college fund without having to do anything different or sacrifice anything.

There are plenty of jobs and the experts expect the growth of the job market in Lakeland, it is an extremely affordable place to live for families, singles, and retirees alike. The downtown area is a perfect place to browse the stores, feel the beat of the city, grab a coffee, or enjoy a burger for lunch. Residents enjoy the charming small-town vibe of this inviting city.

Due to the plentiful job opportunities, the experts anticipate that the Lakeland job market growth will outpace the US job market growth rate. The Lakeland job market is expected to grow faster than the overall US job market in the next few years. Affordable housing and cost of living, proximity to Tampa & Orlando, a great place to retire, history, charm, and natural beauty, seven registered historical districts, antique stores, galleries, oak-canopied streets, lush natural landscape, and many lakes will make you enjoy the life to the fullest.

  • One of Florida’s largest hospitals, the Lakeland Regional Medical Center is located in Lakeland.
  • Lakeland housing is affordable that’s why 64% of residents own their homes.
  • The major industrial sectors of Lakeland are; health care, education, transportation and service industries, citrus, and phosphate mining.
  • Its excellent location and proximity to bigger cities make it a prime spot for those who want easy access to many amenities, but at an affordable price.

Cost of living in Lakeland, Florida

The overall cost of living in Lakeland, Florida is 89. The cost of goods & services is 94, groceries 103, health care 96, housing 70, transportation 98and utilities 98. The cost of living in Lakeland is 11% lower than the Florida average, 11% lower than the national average and housing is 30% lower than the national average.

The average cost of living is $1927 in Lakeland which is in the top 19% of the most expensive cities in the world, ranked 1603rd out of 2202 in the United States, 1726th out of 9294  on the global list, and 108th out of 125 in Florida.

The average household income is $67,899 in Lakeland with a poverty rate of 15.51%. The median rental costs in recent years reached $1,056 per month and the median house value is $160,400.

What are the demographics of Lakeland, Florida?

Out of 953 cities in the state of Florida, Lakeland is the 21st most populated city. The largest Lakeland ethnic groups are White followed by Black and Hispanic.

  • White: 70.86%
  • Black or African American: 19.40%
  • Two or more races: 4.00%
  • Other race: 3.33%
  • Asian: 1.98%
  • Native American: 0.37%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.07%

Population by Age and Gender

  • Male Population:   48.21%
  • Female Population:   51.79%
  • 10 years:   11%
  • 10-17 years:   9%
  • 18-24 years:   10%
  • 25-34 years:   13%
  • 35-44 years:   12%
  • 45-54 years:   11%
  • 55-64 years:   12%
  • 65+ years:   22%

The median age is 41.1 years in Lakeland, 39.4 years for males, and 42.7 years for females

Things to do in Lakeland, Florida

Aching for a healthy dose of nature?

Lakeland will quench your thirst for adventure and nature escapes by offering an abundance of scenic green spaces which can be an absolute treat for anyone. Lakeland has an aesthetic charm as no other city has. Things to do include;

How many people live in Lakeland, Florida – Population?

Located in Polk County Florida, Lakeland has a population of 115,685, currently growing at a rate of 1.33% annually and its population has decreased since the most recent census. The number of people per household in Lakeland is 2.4, 44.4% are married, 14.0% are divorced, 22.6% are married with children and 20.4% have children, but are single. The population density is 280% higher than in Florida and the median age is 3% lower than Florida.

Lakeland, Florida Weather

In Lakeland, the summers are long, hot, wet, oppressive, and mostly cloudy and the winters are cool, short, and partly cloudy. The temperature typically varies from 50°F to 90°F and is rarely below 36°F or above 94°F over the course of the year. Lakeland, Florida gets 53 inches of rain, 0 inches of snow, and 240 sunny days on average, per year. November, April, and March are the most pleasant months to visit Lakeland. Humidity can be oppressive in the summer but is pleasant for much of the year. June is the wettest month with 8.2 inches of rain and the driest month is November with 2.0 inches. August is the rainiest month with 17.0 days of rain and April is the driest month with only 5.5 rainy days.

The hot season starts from May to October & lasts for 4.8 months with an average daily high temperature above 86°F. The hottest month of the year is August with an average high of 90°F and a low of 73°F.

The cool season starts from December to February & lasts for 2.6 months with an average daily high temperature below 75°F. The coldest month of the year is January with an average low of 50°F and a high of 71°F.

dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Lakeland, Florida – September 6th, 2022 pic.twitter.com/eHVMo9N5ot
— Nicholas Merritt (@NickMerritt19) September 6, 2022

Average Income in Lakeland, Florida

The average annual salary is $42,298 in Lakeland which works out to be approximately $20.34 an hour and this is equivalent to $813 a week or $3,524 a month. Most salaries range from $29,734 to $52,814 annually. Jobs that pay more than the local average of $42,298 per year in Lakeland area include;

  • Vascular Surgeon:   $356,968
  • Orthopedic Surgeon:   $337,626
  • Anesthesiologist:   $295,048
  • Emergency Medicine Physician:   $292,659
  • Cardiologist:   $288,992
  • Dermatology Physician:   $258,862
  • Radiologist:   $255,136
  • OB Gyn:   $247,547
  • Pulmonologist:   $244,485
  • Psychiatrist:   $242,886

Taxes & Utilities in Lakeland, Florida

In Lakeland, FL the average electricity customer is using 1,600 kWh of electricity per month and 19,200 kWh over the course of the year. So, on average, electricity users spend about $188 per month on electricity which adds up to $2,256 per year and that’s 15% higher than the national average electric bill of $1,967.

The minimum combined 2022 state, county, and city sales tax rate for Lakeland, Florida is 7%. The Florida sales tax rate is currently 6%, the county sales tax rate is 1% and the Lakeland sales tax rate is 0%.

Is Lakeland, Florida good for singles?

Lakeland has a lot of options to offer singles when you are looking for a job, fun things, an ideal location to live, a pint of beer, live music, or fine dining. Downtown is a perfect gathering place, especially for singles where colleagues, friends, and even families meet up to unwind and enjoy a spectacular sunset view.

The communities inside fitness clubs flourish due to top-notch facilities and unprecedented programming in Lakeland, Florida. The beauty of these gyms lies in the fact that they embrace the idea that every person can get one step closer to feeling fit by just moving forward. That’s why consciously created a space for a variety of custom fitness experiences to raise fitness in the region. They will help you get started on the right foot whether you are a beginner looking to lose weight or a competitive athlete wanting to train up, the trainers in Lakeland, Florida gyms will create a customized workout plan to meet your individual need. So, lace up and start sweating with the following options;

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Is Lakeland, Florida good for families?

There are plenty of reasons why this beautiful community would be a great place to raise families such as great weather, stunning scenery, perfect educational facilities, and plenty of activities.Since it provides its citizens with so many wonderful possibilities and room for progress, Lakeland, Florida, has earned the title “the city of destiny.

Families wishing to settle down may choose from a variety of affordable housing alternatives in this mid-sized city.Families of all sizes and walks of life may feel at home in Lakeland because of its family-friendly housing options. They mentioned that excellent schools, recreational opportunities, and reasonably priced homes are some of Lakeland’s best qualities, making it one of the best places for raising kids. Everyone who wants to raise a family in Lakeland has an inexpensive choice, whether they are seeking little apartments or huge single-family houses.

How are the schools in Lakeland, Florida?

Lakeland city has invested heavily in education whether you have a small family looking for private, Montessori, charter, magnet, public education, or wish to pursue studies yourself, you will find many institutions offering the same level of education you seek.

This vibrant medium-sized city, Lakeland has 211 schools including preschools, elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as public charter schools, and private schools, it has five colleges and three technical schools also.

Approximately 39.71% of the population in Lakeland holds a high school degree, 23.92% have attained a college certificate and 15.57% have a bachelor’s degree.

Middle schools in Lakeland, Florida

  • Lakeland Montessori Middle School
  • Rochelle School Of The Arts
  • Lakeland Highlands Middle School
  • Lawton Chiles Middle Academy
  • Rosabelle W. Blake Academy

High schools in Lakeland, Florida

  • McKeel Academy of Technology
  • Lakeland Senior High School
  • Lake Wales Senior High School
  • George W. Jenkins Senior High School
  • Fort Meade Middle/Senior High School

Colleges & Universities in Lakeland, Florida

  • Florida Polytechnic University
  • Webber International University
  • Florida Southern College
  • Southeastern University
  • Polk State College

Churches in Lakeland, Florida

  • Centerpoint Church
  • Highland Park Church
  • Free Life Chapel
  • Grace City Church – Lakeside Campus
  • Ignited Church

Conclusion: Why you should consider moving to Lakeland, Florida

  • The residents of Lakeland are exceptionally educated.
  • The typical commute to Lakeland takes about 21 minutes, the walk Score is 36, and the bike score is 52.
  • From hiking and animal adventures to family outings at playgrounds and water sports, there are many outdoor activities residents can enjoy at any time of the year.
  • There are no state income taxes and property taxes are comparatively lower than most states in the country.
  • Accessible and affordable healthcare with affordable housing and living costs.
  • The city of Lakeland is consistently growing and is highly ranked for its affordability and offering plenty of options to see and do.
  • Its close proximity to Orlando and Tampa makes it an ideal place to relocate.

Contact Infinite Moving at (863) 225-0050 if you need help with moving and finding the most comfortable neighborhood or fill out our online GET AN ESTIMATE form to book your move.

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