Lake Wales, FL · standard
ZIP Code 33853
Polk County, Florida - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,161
- 528/sq mi High-density area
- $44,474
- Median income Below-median income area
- $209,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 16.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lake Wales pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 9th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 46th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 528
- people per sq mi
- 53%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 33853 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 33853 (Lake Wales, FL) rose +6.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 326.8 in 2023 to 347.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 33853 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida, home to 11,161 residents across 21.1 square miles, a density of 528 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 33853 reports a modest median household income of $44,474 (42% below the average Florida ZIP), while per-capita income is $25,161. The poverty rate is 21.2%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $209,300 (44% below the average Florida ZIP), and median rent is $1,059; owner occupancy is 53.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.6, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 33853 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 33853
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Wales, FL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 33853.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
73 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
61 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
42 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
37 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
36 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 33853, Lake Wales, FL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
11,161
Population
21.1
Area (sq mi)
528
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 33853?
37.6
Median Age
45.6%
Male
54.4%
Female
10.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$44,474
Median Household Income
-42% vs state ZIP avg
$25,161
Per Capita Income
21.2%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 33853 ranks among Florida ZIPs
Lake Wales, FL household income vs. every Florida ZIP code
Median household income among 946 reporting Florida ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$44,474 6th percentile higher than 6% of 946 Florida ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Florida ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
5,699housing units
5,699
Total Housing Units
4,923
Occupied Units
776
Vacant Units
2.51
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$209,300
Median Home Value
-44% vs state ZIP avg
$1,059
Median Rent
1976
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.3%
YoY Change (2024)
347
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+247%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 33853 have increased 6.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +247% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +12.9% | 204 |
| 2021 | +19.5% | 244 |
| 2022 | +33.7% | 325 |
| 2023 | +0.4% | 327 |
| 2024 | +6.3% | 347 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 374 business establishments in ZIP 33853, employing approximately 5,281 people with a combined annual payroll of $254,929,000.
374
Businesses
5,281
Employees
$254.9M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 73 | 19.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 61 | 16.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 42 | 11.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 37 | 9.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 9.6% |
| Construction | 29 | 7.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 25 | 6.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 3.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 3.2% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 2.9% |
| Educational services | 10 | 2.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 2.1% |
| Information | 6 | 1.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 33853 vs 33859 →
ZIP 33853 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 33884
Winter Haven (33884)
28,763 residents
- 33853 11,161
Lake Wales (33853)
11,161 residents
- 33859 10,582
Lake Wales (33859)
10,582 residents
- 33838 3,515
Dundee (33838)
3,515 residents
- 33827 3,036
Babson Park (33827)
3,036 residents
- 33851 907
Lake Hamilton (33851)
907 residents
- 33877 276
Waverly (33877)
276 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 33853 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 33853 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 33884
Winter Haven (33884)
$70,443 median income
- 33851
Lake Hamilton (33851)
$62,284 median income
- 33859
Lake Wales (33859)
$57,760 median income
- 33827
Babson Park (33827)
$54,556 median income
- 33838
Dundee (33838)
$50,766 median income
- 33853
Lake Wales (33853)
$44,474 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 33853 ranks #6 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 33853, both outside FL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (11,161 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 33853 in?
ZIP code 33853 (Lake Wales) is located in Polk County, Florida. Polk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/polk-fl.
What is the population of ZIP code 33853?
ZIP code 33853 in Lake Wales, FL has a population of 11,161 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 33853?
The median household income in ZIP 33853 is $44,474, which is 42% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 33853?
The median home value in ZIP 33853 is $209,300, which is 25% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 33853?
The largest racial group in ZIP 33853 is White at 44.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 37.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 33853?
ZIP code 33853 has 374 business establishments employing approximately 5,281 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 33853?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 33853 are: Retail trade (73), Health care and social assistance (61), Other services (except public administration) (42). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 33853?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 33853 increased by 6.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 247%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 33853?
In ZIP code 33853, 52.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 33853?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 33853 is 22.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 33853?
In ZIP code 33853, approximately 53.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 33853?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 33853 is 21.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 33853's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 33853 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lake Wales, FL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.