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 Moderate-density area
- $57,224
- Median income Below-median income area
- $168,400
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 18.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-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 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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 33898 (Lake Wales, FL) rose +4.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 361.0 in 2023 to 377.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Florida ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,408. The poverty rate is 10.7%, with unemployment at 3.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $168,400 (55% below the average Florida ZIP), and median rent is $1,194; owner occupancy is 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. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 33898 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 33898
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Wales, FL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 33898.
- Construction
Construction
33 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
22 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
21 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
21 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
20 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 33898?
48.2
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
9.1%
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?
$57,224
Median Household Income
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$31,408
Per Capita Income
10.7%
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
28.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 33898 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)
$57,224 21st percentile higher than 21% 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
10,027housing units
10,027
Total Housing Units
7,498
Occupied Units
2,529
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$168,400
Median Home Value
-55% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 33898
Lake Wales (33898)
15,355 residents
- 33856 487
Nalcrest (33856)
487 residents
- 33854 194
Lakeshore (33854)
194 residents
- 33855 43
Indian Lake Estates (33855)
43 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 33898 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 33898 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 33898
Lake Wales (33898)
$57,224 median income
- 33856
Nalcrest (33856)
$37,622 median income
- 33854
Lakeshore (33854)
$29,250 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 33898, 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 (15,355 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 33898's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 33898 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.