Lakeland vs Tampa
The short version
- Lakeland is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Tampa area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $249,400 in Lakeland and $420,400 in Tampa.
- Households earn more in Tampa ($75,475 vs $64,185 median).
- Lakeland has more scorching days: 119 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 94.
- Lakeland is growing faster: +11.5% since 2020 vs +7.3%.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Tampa, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 125,520 | 413,554 |
| Growth since 2020 | +11.5% | +7.3% |
| People per square mile | 1,885 | 3,612 |
| Median age | 38.9 | 35.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29% | 46% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $64,185 | $75,475 |
| Median home value | $249,400 | $420,400 |
| Home value to income | 3.9× | 5.6× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,395 | $1,701 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 97.1 | 100.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 95.9 | 125.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,900 | $75,700 |
| Homeowners | 56% | 50% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 6.98% | 6.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 23.1 | 24.8 |
| Work from home | 14% | 22% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.5% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 15.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 74° / 51° | 71° / 53° |
| July high / low | 92° / 74° | 91° / 77° |
| Precipitation per year | 57 in | 50 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 119 | 94 |
| Nights below freezing | 3 | 1 |
| Comfortable months | 7 | 7 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.5 | 98.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 95% | 50% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.4% | +1.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +42.9% | +47.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Lakeland: October to April. Tampa: October to April.
Full monthly tables: Lakeland weather by month and Tampa weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,900 in Lakeland and $75,700 in Tampa. Moving from Lakeland to Tampa, you would need about $77,900 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Lakeland and Tampa
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Lakeland and Tampa.
Which would you pick?
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