Residential delivery area · Florida
ZIP Code 33853: Lake Wales, FL
ZIP code 33853 is in Lake Wales, Florida, entirely in Polk County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 13,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd most populous of Lake Wales's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $44,474 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 72% of its land lies in Lake Wales; 28% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Lake Wales · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Polk County
- Census places
- Lake Wales
- Metro area
- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
- House district
- FL-18 119th Congress
- State
- Florida
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 8.7 sq mi · 1,465 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 33853?
33853 centers on 27.901°, -81.586° and covers 8.7 square miles of land plus 1.0 of water. It borders 2 ZIP codes: 33859, 33898.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 33853, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 33853 compare with the rest of Lake Wales?
| Measure | 33853 | In Lake Wales | In Polk County | In FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 12,674 | 2nd of 3 | 25th of 44 | 650th of 1,013 |
| Median household income | $45k | 3rd of 3 | 29th of 30 | 789th of 819 |
| Median home value | $209k | 2nd of 3 | 24th of 32 | 734th of 833 |
Its median household income is higher than in 9% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 82% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 33853?
The 2020 Census counted 12,404 people in 33853; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 12,674. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 11.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 12,674
- 2020 Census count
- 12,404+11.1% since 2010 (11,161)
- Households
- 4,923
- Median age
- 37.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 33853?
Of the 12,674 people the ACS estimates in 33853, 22.8% are under 18 and 17.8% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (37.8%), then Hispanic or Latino (37.2%).
- Under 1822.8%
- 18 to 6459.4%
- 65 and older17.8%
- White, not Hispanic37.8%
- Hispanic or Latino37.2%
- Black, not Hispanic22.3%
- Other or two or more1.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 33853 earn?
Median household income is $44,474 (ACS 2020-2024), the 29th highest of the 30 ranked ZIP codes in Polk County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($46,244 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $44,474±$9,152
- Income per person
- $25,161
- Below the poverty line
- 21.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.3%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 16.3%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $47,4415,240 returns; wages 74% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 33853?
FHFA's house price index for 33853, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 135% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 58% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −8.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $209,300
- Median gross rent
- $1,059
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 53.0%
- Housing units
- 5,699
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 33853?
374 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 7 fewer than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade73
- Health care and social assistance61
- Other services (except public administration)42
- Professional, scientific, and technical services37
- Accommodation and food services36
- Construction29
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 33853?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33859 | Lake Wales | 11,824 | $58k | 2.8 mi |
| 33898 | Lake Wales | 18,527 | $57k | 16.4 mi |
| 33877 | Waverly | 159 | – | 6.1 mi (near) |
| 33827 | Babson Park | 2,431 | $55k | 7.1 mi (near) |
| 33838 | Dundee | 5,688 | $51k | 8.2 mi (near) |
| 33884 | Winter Haven | 37,561 | $70k | 8.2 mi (near) |
| 33856 | Nalcrest | 394 | $38k | 10.1 mi (near) |
| 33851 | Lake Hamilton | 1,212 | $62k | 10.3 mi (near) |
| 33854 | Lakeshore | 781 | $29k | 11.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.