Residential delivery area · Florida
ZIP Code 33859: Lake Wales, FL
ZIP code 33859 uses the postal name Lake Wales, Florida and lies entirely in Polk County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 12,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the least populous of Lake Wales's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $57,760 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Alturas (23%), Lake Wales (20%) and Crooked Lake Park (1%), and 1% in smaller places; 54% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Lake Wales · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Polk County
- Census places
- Alturas (23%) census-designated place; Lake Wales (20%); Crooked Lake Park (1%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
- House district
- FL-18 119th Congress
- State
- Florida
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 45.5 sq mi · 260 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 33859?
33859 centers on 27.885°, -81.628° and covers 45.5 square miles of land plus 2.9 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 33853, 33877, 33884, 33827, 33830, 33843, 33841, 33898.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 33859, 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 33859 compare with the rest of Lake Wales?
| Measure | 33859 | In Lake Wales | In Polk County | In FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 11,824 | 3rd of 3 | 26th of 44 | 671st of 1,013 |
| Median household income | $58k | 1st of 3 | 21st of 30 | 657th of 819 |
| Median home value | $215k | 1st of 3 | 23rd of 32 | 728th of 833 |
Its median household income is higher than in 25% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 65% 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 33859?
The 2020 Census counted 10,866 people in 33859; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 11,824. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 11,824
- 2020 Census count
- 10,866
- Households
- 4,863
- Median age
- 47.9
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 33859?
Of the 11,824 people the ACS estimates in 33859, 18.1% are under 18 and 32.5% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (65.6%), then Hispanic or Latino (19.0%).
- Under 1818.1%
- 18 to 6449.4%
- 65 and older32.5%
- White, not Hispanic65.6%
- Hispanic or Latino19.0%
- Black, not Hispanic12.8%
- Other or two or more2.1%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
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 33859 earn?
Median household income is $57,760 (ACS 2020-2024), the 21st highest of the 30 ranked ZIP codes in Polk County.
- Median household income
- $57,760±$8,048
- Income per person
- $29,088
- Below the poverty line
- 23.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 25.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $72,6045,350 returns; wages 43% 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 33859?
FHFA's house price index for 33859, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 212% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 85% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −3.0% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $215,300
- Median gross rent
- $1,288
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 71.5%
- Housing units
- 5,977
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 33859?
191 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 21 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade47
- Accommodation and food services23
- Construction19
- Other services (except public administration)15
- Health care and social assistance13
- Manufacturing12
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 33859?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33853 | Lake Wales | 12,674 | $45k | 2.8 mi |
| 33877 | Waverly | 159 | – | 6.9 mi |
| 33884 | Winter Haven | 37,561 | $70k | 7.5 mi |
| 33827 | Babson Park | 2,431 | $55k | 8.2 mi |
| 33830 | Bartow | 33,740 | $64k | 11.2 mi |
| 33843 | Frostproof | 11,220 | $51k | 12.7 mi |
| 33841 | Fort Meade | 8,005 | $39k | 13.3 mi |
| 33898 | Lake Wales | 18,527 | $57k | 19.0 mi |
| 33838 | Dundee | 5,688 | $51k | 9.2 mi (near) |
| 33839 | Eagle Lake | 4,561 | $70k | 9.9 mi (near) |
| 33851 | Lake Hamilton | 1,212 | $62k | 11.0 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.