Winter Haven, FL
Census place 1278275 · pop 55,200
Home of LEGOLAND Florida, built on the former site of the historic Cypress Gardens theme park.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
18.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
41.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
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.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
31.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$59,648 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
22.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
16.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
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).
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.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1551 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
235 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,794/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
63.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$269,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.83% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
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.
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.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+33.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Frequently asked
- Is Winter Haven, FL a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Winter Haven 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 population growth (5yr) 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 Winter Haven, FL?
- Winter Haven reports 235 violent crimes per 100k and 1551 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Winter Haven, FL expensive to live in?
- Winter Haven has a median home value of $269,800 and typical rent around $1,794/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Winter Haven, FL?
- Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (18.5%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Winter Haven, FL best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+33.8%) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of LEGOLAND Florida, built on the former site of the historic Cypress Gardens theme park.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.