Department of Numbers

Lakeland Florida Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Lakeland, FL (the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area) was $998 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Lakeland was $1,024 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Lakeland median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Lakeland rental vacancy rates, Lakeland rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Lakeland.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Lakeland Florida (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Florida Median Gross Rent $1,238 +2.91% +8.88%
Lakeland, FL Median Gross Rent $998 +2.04% +7.20%

Lakeland, FL Real Gross Rent Trends

At $998, real median gross rent in Lakeland was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,024, real average gross rent in Lakeland was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent in Lakeland: Lakeland FL Median, Lakeland FL Average, Florida Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Lakeland

Date US
Median
Florida
Median
Lakeland, FL
Median
Lakeland, FL
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,238 $998 $1,024
2018 $1,077 $1,203 $978 $988
2017 $1,043 $1,163 $967 $964
2016 $1,027 $1,137 $931 $943
2015 $1,017 $1,110 $944 $940
2014 $986 $1,059 $925 $935
2013 $953 $1,024 $895 $887
2012 $940 $1,015 $891 $873
2011 $941 $1,025 $899 $891
2010 $955 $1,058 $925 $933
2009 $960 $1,085 $932 $905

more history ...

Lakeland Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Lakeland Florida was 7.01% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Lakeland Florida

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Florida 8.72% +0.20% +0.42%
Lakeland, FL 7.01% +0.31% -0.27%

Trends in Lakeland, FL Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Lakeland peaked in 2009 at 12.94%. Since then it has fallen by 5.93% to 7.01%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 5.19%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.82%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Lakeland FL, Florida, US

Rental vacancy rate in Florida

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Lakeland

Date US Florida Lakeland, FL
2019 5.97% 8.72% 7.01%
2018 6.15% 8.52% 6.70%
2017 6.18% 9.16% 5.19%
2016 5.89% 8.30% 7.28%
2015 5.85% 7.79% 6.55%
2014 6.32% 8.66% 8.94%
2013 6.49% 9.22% 8.47%
2012 6.77% 9.37% 7.78%
2011 7.40% 10.91% 11.60%
2010 8.17% 12.17% 11.32%
2009 8.43% 13.16% 12.94%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Lakeland, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Lakeland, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 23.10% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Lakeland Florida Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Florida 25.08% -0.49% -0.54%
Lakeland, FL 23.10% +0.79% +0.09%

Trends in Lakeland, FL Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Lakeland household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 24.79%. Since then it has fallen by 1.69% to 23.10%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Lakeland FL, Florida, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Lakeland Florida

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Lakeland Florida

Date US Florida Lakeland, FL
2019 20.03% 25.08% 23.10%
2018 20.50% 25.57% 22.32%
2017 20.13% 25.74% 23.22%
2016 20.43% 25.62% 23.01%
2015 20.63% 25.40% 24.24%
2014 20.89% 25.36% 24.57%
2013 20.78% 25.34% 24.04%
2012 20.65% 25.42% 24.33%
2011 20.70% 25.71% 24.79%
2010 20.50% 25.59% 24.13%
2009 20.12% 25.54% 23.42%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Lakeland Florida

You can calculate the renter fraction in Lakeland in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Lakeland as a fraction of total Lakeland households. In 2019 30.65% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Lakeland Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Florida 33.75% -0.33% -2.12%
Lakeland, FL 30.65% +0.29% -1.45%

Trends in the Lakeland, FL Renter Fraction

The Lakeland household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 32.89% and is now 2.24% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Lakeland FL, Florida, US

Fraction of renters in Lakeland

History of Lakeland Renter Fraction

Date US Florida Lakeland, FL
2019 35.89% 33.75% 30.65%
2018 36.05% 34.08% 30.36%
2017 36.13% 34.85% 32.22%
2016 36.88% 35.87% 32.10%
2015 36.97% 36.22% 32.89%
2014 36.90% 35.95% 31.46%
2013 36.50% 35.21% 31.37%
2012 36.09% 34.36% 32.17%
2011 35.42% 33.28% 30.37%
2010 34.65% 31.85% 28.89%
2009 34.13% 31.52% 28.61%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.