PlainZIP

Lake Wales, FL · standard

ZIP Code 33898

Polk County, Florida - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

15,355
19/sq mi
$57,224
Median income
$168,400
Median home value
18.4%
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 rural, homeowner-dominated area.

24th pct
household income, US ZIPs
34th pct
home value, US ZIPs
19
people per sq mi
87%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 33898 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 33898 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida, home to 15,355 residents across 791.5 square miles, a density of 19 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 33898 reports a modest median household income of $57,224 (26% below the Florida average), while per-capita income is $31,408. Poverty here runs at 10.7%, with unemployment measured at 3.8%. Median home value sits at $168,400 (55% below the state average), median rent at $1,194 a month, and owner-occupancy at 87.4%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.2, and the average commute is 29 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 3 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 33898, plus 6 more within Polk County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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 33898

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Wales, FL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 33898.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 33898, 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

15,355

Population

791.5

Area (sq mi)

19

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 33898?

48.2

Median Age

48.2%

Male

51.8%

Female

9.1%

Foreign-Born

White 76.7%
African American 5.7%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 11.0%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%

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?

$57,224

Median Household Income

-26% vs state

$31,408

Per Capita Income

10.7%

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Unemployment Rate

28.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 33898 ranks nationally

Lake Wales, FL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$57,224 24th percentile higher than 24% 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 54.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.4%

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

What does housing look like?

10,027

Total Housing Units

7,498

Occupied Units

2,529

Vacant Units

2.47

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 87.4%
Renter 12.6%

$168,400

Median Home Value

-55% vs state

$1,194

Median Rent

1987

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

+4.7%

YoY Change (2024)

378

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+278%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 33898 have increased 4.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +278% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.7% 223
2021 +19.1% 266
2022 +20.1% 320
2023 +12.9% 361
2024 +4.7% 378

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 186 business establishments in ZIP 33898, employing approximately 1,559 people with a combined annual payroll of $75,628,000.

186

Businesses

1,559

Employees

$75.6M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 33 17.7%
Retail trade 22 11.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 21 11.3%
Accommodation and food services 21 11.3%
Other services (except public administration) 20 10.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 17 9.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 11 5.9%
Manufacturing 8 4.3%
Wholesale trade 6 3.2%
Finance and insurance 5 2.7%
Transportation and warehousing 4 2.1%
Health care and social assistance 4 2.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 1.6%
Utilities 3 1.6%
Information 3 1.6%

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 33898 vs 33855 →

ZIP 33898 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 33898 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 33898 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 33898 ranks the highest of 3 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
33855 Indian Lake Estates, FL 43 2.3 mi
33854 Lakeshore, FL 194 3.5 mi
33856 Nalcrest, FL 487 4.5 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 33898 in? ▼
ZIP code 33898 (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 33898? ▼
ZIP code 33898 in Lake Wales, FL has a population of 15,355 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 33898? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 33898 is $57,224, which is 25% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 33898? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 33898 is $168,400, which is 39% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 33898? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 33898 is White at 76.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 17.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 33898? ▼
ZIP code 33898 has 186 business establishments employing approximately 1,559 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 33898? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 33898 are: Construction (33), Retail trade (22), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (21). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 33898? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 33898 increased by 4.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 278%. 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 33898? ▼
In ZIP code 33898, 54.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.4% 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 33898? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 33898 is 28.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 33898? ▼
In ZIP code 33898, approximately 87.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 12.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 33898? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 33898 is 10.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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