Lake Wales, FL

Census place 1238950 · pop 16,785

D−39/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in FL
📍 Florida ranks #29 of 50 states →
🏆 Air39 AQI · top 27%
🚽 Uninsured20.3% · bottom 7%
Taxes
0.91% property · US 0.99%6.98% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Uninsured adults20.3%7

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

20.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity42.6%9

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

42.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poverty rate22.4%12

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

22.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Physical inactivity33.3%14

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

33.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Broadband access85.6%14

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

85.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

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.

Adult smoking16.5%22

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

16.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$56,34722

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

$56,347 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher20.8%24

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

20.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Income inequality0.4633

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.46 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Poor mental health18.1%35

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

18.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

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.

Homeownership59.2%36

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

59.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Property crime rate1529/100k42

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

1529 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Violent crime rate244/100k42

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

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

Commute time24 min50

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

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

Property-tax burden0.91%55

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

0.91% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Housing cost$239,30060

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

$239,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Population growth (5yr)+4.7%61

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

+4.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

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.

Rent$1,462/mo71

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

$1,462/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

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.

Frequently asked

Is Lake Wales, FL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Lake Wales scores 39/100 — 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 air quality (aqi) 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 Lake Wales, FL?
Lake Wales reports 244 violent crimes per 100k and 1529 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Lake Wales, FL expensive to live in?
Lake Wales has a median home value of $239,300 and typical rent around $1,462/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Lake Wales, FL?
Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (20.3%) — 7/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Lake Wales, FL best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (39 AQI) — 73/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

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