City in Polk County, Florida · 20.3 sq mi · 937 people per sq mi
About 19,000 people live in Lake Wales. The typical household earns $56,347, and the median resident is 42.7 years old.
2026 projection
From 16,285 in 2020
Poverty rate 22.44%
Men 38.2 · Women 49
1920–2026
19,025
2026 projection
16.8% since 2020 (increase)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
1920–2026
19,025
2026 projection
16.8% since 2020 (increase)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
| 2026 | 19,025 | +375 | 2.01% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18,650 | +864 | 4.86% |
| 2024 | 17,786 | +946 | 5.62% |
| 2023 | 16,840 | +254 | 1.53% |
| 2022 | 16,586 | +165 | 1.00% |
| 2021 | 16,421 | +136 | 0.84% |
| 2020 | 16,285 | -481 | 2.87% |
| 2019 | 16,766 | +266 | 1.61% |
| 2018 | 16,500 | +516 | 3.23% |
| 2017 | 15,984 | +350 | 2.24% |
Showing 10 of 26 years.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S0101
Each square is about 1% of residents (roughly 168 people).
Hispanic or Latino residents can be of any race. All other groups exclude Hispanic residents.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table B03002
Half of households earn more, half earn less
Typical yearly pay for a worker 25 or older.
About 1 in 4 residents
46% of residents age 15 and older are married.
| Status | Overall | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married | 46% | 51% | 41% |
| Never married | 34% | 34% | 33% |
| Divorced | 13% | 11% | 15% |
| Widowed | 6% | 3% | 9% |
| Separated | 2% | 1% | 2% |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S1201
10 sources, all from the U.S. Census Bureau