PlainZIP

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
$44,474
Median income
$209,300
Median home value
16.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

ZIP code 33853 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 21.1 square miles in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida. The area is home to 11,161 residents, producing a population density of 528 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 33853 against Florida and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 33853 sits at $44,474 (42% below the Florida average), while per-capita income is $25,161. The poverty rate stands at 21.2% and the unemployment rate at 7.2%. On housing, the median home value is $209,300 (44% below the state average) with median rent at $1,059 per month, and 53.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 33853 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 16.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.6, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Polk County, so you can benchmark 33853 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 33853

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 33853.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 33853?

37.6

Median Age

45.6%

Male

54.4%

Female

10.8%

Foreign-Born

White 44.7%
African American 22.3%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 17.0%
Hispanic or Latino 37.2%

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

$25,161

Per Capita Income

21.2%

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Unemployment Rate

22.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 33853 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$44,474 9th percentile higher than 9% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 52.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

5,699

Total Housing Units

4,923

Occupied Units

776

Vacant Units

2.51

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 53.0%
Renter 47.0%

$209,300

Median Home Value

-44% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 33853 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 33853 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
33859 Lake Wales, FL 10,582 2.8 mi
33877 Waverly, FL 276 6.4 mi
33838 Dundee, FL 3,515 8.5 mi
33827 Babson Park, FL 3,036 7.2 mi
33884 Winter Haven, FL 28,763 7.8 mi
33851 Lake Hamilton, FL 907 10.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Polk County

33810 standard
Lakeland, FL
Pop: 44,254
33880 standard
Winter Haven, FL
Pop: 37,798
33844 standard
Haines City, FL
Pop: 33,804
33801 standard
Lakeland, FL
Pop: 33,741
33813 standard
Lakeland, FL
Pop: 31,698
34759 standard
Kissimmee, FL
Pop: 30,170

Related Areas

Polk County Lake Wales, FL Florida

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.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Lake Wales, FL

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.