Bartow, FL

Census place 1203675 · pop 20,438

D−38/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in FL
📍 Florida ranks #29 of 50 states →
🏆 Prop tax0.55% · top 13%
🚽 Uninsured16.5% · bottom 13%
Taxes
0.55% property · US 0.99%6.98% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Uninsured adults16.5%13

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

16.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity40.4%17

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

40.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Violent crime rate492/100k17

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

492 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level98/10019

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

98/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access86.9%19

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

86.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Poor mental health19.0%22

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Poverty rate18.1%23

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

18.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult smoking15.5%29

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Bachelor's degree or higher22.8%30

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

22.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Physical inactivity28.2%33

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

28.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property crime rate1804/100k34

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1804 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Commute time26 min34

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

26 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Median household income$68,17841

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$68,178 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.4351

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Rent$1,725/mo52

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,725/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Homeownership65.9%56

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

65.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Housing cost$234,10061

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$234,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+5.1%64

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+5.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Air quality (AQI)County-level39 AQI73

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.55%87

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.55% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Frequently asked

Is Bartow, FL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Bartow scores 38/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property-tax burden and its weakest is uninsured adults. Florida overall ranks #29 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Bartow, FL?
Bartow reports 492 violent crimes per 100k and 1804 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Bartow, FL expensive to live in?
Bartow has a median home value of $234,100 and typical rent around $1,725/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Bartow, FL?
Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (16.5%) — 13/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Bartow, FL best at?
Its strongest measured area is property-tax burden (0.55%) — 87/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.