Cost of Living in Polk County, Florida
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Polk County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Polk County ranks #2,616 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 17%)
Sourced county brief
Polk County Renter-Household Median Income Estimated at $50,423
In Polk County, the median income for renter households was estimated at $50,423 during the 2020-2024 ACS period. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) stood at 32.3%, which is 0.5 percentage points lower than the Florida unweighted county mean of 32.8%. Median gross rent in the county was recorded at $1,363 per month, $59 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,304. The median home value was $266,500, a figure that is $17,825 below the state unweighted county mean of $284,325. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,122, compared to the Florida unweighted county mean of $1,039. The rent-to-income metric is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI rather than a calculated estimate from aggregate medians. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Polk County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.3% of renter household income in Polk County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,363 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,122. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $54,520 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Florida unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,304 per month. Polk County's $1,363 median is 4.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Polk County
Rent Burden
24.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,539
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.4%
of gross income
The median home in Polk County may be a stretch
Median home value is $266,500. Estimated monthly cost: $2,128 vs. your max of $1,539.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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