Zip code 33853: Lake Wales, Florida

Q: What city is zip code 33853?

33853 is assigned to Lake Wales, Florida. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 33853 in?

33853 is in Polk County, Florida.

Q: What is the population of 33853?

About 12,674 people live in 33853, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 33853?

The median household income in 33853 is $44,474.

Q: What zip codes are near 33853?

The closest zip codes to 33853 are 33859, 33877, 33827, 33820, 33845.

Residential delivery areaPolk CountyEastern Time

Population

12,674

Median household income

$44K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$209K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,059/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

8.7 sq mi

1,465 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 33853

33853 is a suburban zip code in Lake Wales, Florida (Polk County), covering 8.7 sq mi of land. About 12,674 people live here, or 1,465 per square mile. The median resident is 37.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $44,474 a year, 45% below the national median of $80,734. 21.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $209,300, or 4.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 53% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,059 a month.

16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.6 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; healthcare; and office and administrative support. 30% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 33853 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters69.3%
97th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · FL 60.1%137th of 945 in FL
Poverty rate21.2%
87th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · FL 12.6%123rd of 970 in FL
Diversity index66.9
87th
U.S. 61.4 · FL 64.799th of 977 in FL
Self-employed workers13.8%
86th
U.S. 10% · FL 12.8%387th of 973 in FL
Housing vacancy13.6%
84th
U.S. 10.1% · FL 14.7%419th of 969 in FL
Unemployment rate7.3%
82nd
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · FL 4.8%123rd of 973 in FL
Income inequality (Gini)0.480
81st
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · FL 0.485253rd of 968 in FL
Uninsured rate10.9%
75th
U.S. 8.4% · FL 11.5%478th of 973 in FL
Residents 65 and older17.8%
59th
U.S. 17.2% · FL 21.3%603rd of 977 in FL
Healthcare workers10%
58th
U.S. 9.7% · FL 9.5%377th of 973 in FL
Residents under 1822.8%
57th
U.S. 22% · FL 19.5%247th of 977 in FL
Foreign-born residents10.8%
53rd
U.S. 14.1% · FL 21.9%523rd of 977 in FL
Government workers14.1%
53rd
U.S. 14.5% · FL 11.7%277th of 973 in FL
Population density1,465/sq mi
51st
U.S. 95/sq mi · FL 418/sq mi464th of 977 in FL
Veterans5.6%
47th
U.S. 6.2% · FL 7.4%686th of 976 in FL
Median age37.6
39th
U.S. 38.9 · FL 42.6783rd of 977 in FL
Average commute22.6 min
27th
U.S. 26.4 min · FL 28 min804th of 948 in FL
Median earnings per worker$41,651
27th
U.S. $49,666 · FL $44,337576th of 961 in FL
Median gross rent$1,059
25th
U.S. $1,413 · FL $1,669768th of 902 in FL
Median home value$209,300
23rd
U.S. $332,700 · FL $359,000778th of 935 in FL
Homeownership rate53%
21st
U.S. 65.2% · FL 67.6%812th of 969 in FL
Population12,674
19th
U.S. 334,922,499 · FL 22,416,077650th of 977 in FL
Work from home7.3%
18th
U.S. 15.1% · FL 15.7%820th of 975 in FL
Broadband access85.6%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · FL 91.6%826th of 969 in FL
Bachelor's degree or higher16.3%
12th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · FL 34.1%805th of 975 in FL
Per capita income$25,161
8th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · FL $42,609866th of 977 in FL
Median household income$44,474
5th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · FL $74,568891st of 948 in FL
Tech workers0.4%
5th
U.S. 3.8% · FL 3.1%857th of 973 in FL

Measure	33853	Polk	FL	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in FL
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	69.3%	54.2%	60.1%	51.1%	97th	137th of 945
Poverty rateWeakness	21.2%	14.5%	12.6%	12.5%	87th	123rd of 970
Diversity index	66.9	63.6	64.7	61.4	87th	99th of 977
Self-employed workers	13.8%	9%	12.8%	10%	86th	387th of 973
Housing vacancy	13.6%	15.1%	14.7%	10.1%	84th	419th of 969
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.3%	4.8%	4.8%	5.2%	82nd	123rd of 973
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.480	0.447	0.485	0.483	81st	253rd of 968
Uninsured rate	10.9%	12.4%	11.5%	8.4%	75th	478th of 973
Residents 65 and older	17.8%	19.5%	21.3%	17.2%	59th	603rd of 977
Healthcare workers	10%	8.2%	9.5%	9.7%	58th	377th of 973
Residents under 18	22.8%	22%	19.5%	22%	57th	247th of 977
Foreign-born residents	10.8%	12.6%	21.9%	14.1%	53rd	523rd of 977
Government workers	14.1%	10.3%	11.7%	14.5%	53rd	277th of 973
Population density	1,465/sq mi	440/sq mi	418/sq mi	95/sq mi	51st	464th of 977
Veterans	5.6%	7.2%	7.4%	6.2%	47th	686th of 976
Median age	37.6	39.5	42.6	38.9	39th	783rd of 977
Average commute	22.6 min	30.5 min	28 min	26.4 min	27th	804th of 948
Median earnings per worker	$41,651	$41,311	$44,337	$49,666	27th	576th of 961
Median gross rent	$1,059	$1,363	$1,669	$1,413	25th	768th of 902
Median home value	$209,300	$266,500	$359,000	$332,700	23rd	778th of 935
Homeownership rate	53%	70.5%	67.6%	65.2%	21st	812th of 969
Population	12,674	790,694	22,416,077	334,922,499	19th	650th of 977
Work from home	7.3%	12.4%	15.7%	15.1%	18th	820th of 975
Broadband accessWeakness	85.6%	90.7%	91.6%	91%	14th	826th of 969
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	16.3%	23.5%	34.1%	35.7%	12th	805th of 975
Per capita incomeWeakness	$25,161	$33,249	$42,609	$44,673	8th	866th of 977
Median household incomeWeakness	$44,474	$65,978	$74,568	$80,734	5th	891st of 948
Tech workers	0.4%	2.7%	3.1%	3.8%	5th	857th of 973

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

15%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

14%

35–44

11%

45–54

14%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.6

Under 18

22.8%

65 and over

17.8%

Race and ethnicity

White38%
Black22%
Hispanic37%
Asian1.0%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

66.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

10.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

50.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

70%

Spanish

27%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.7%

Other

0.7%

Households

Households: 4,923
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 58.4%
Married couples: 35.4%
Living alone: 33.6%
Veterans (of adults): 5.6%
Male / female: 46% / 54%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

31%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

33853

$44,474

Polk Co.

$65,978

Florida

$74,568

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$25,161

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

21.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

5.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.480

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

33853

$209,300

Polk Co.

$266,500

Florida

$359,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

33853

$1,059

Polk Co.

$1,363

Florida

$1,669

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

66%

2–4 units

14%

5–19 units

12%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 5,699
Owner-occupied: 53%
Vacant: 13.6%
Median year built: 1976
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 69.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 40%
Home value to income: 4.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

75%

Carpooled

15%

Transit

0.1%

Walked

0.7%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

16%

10–19

42%

20–29

11%

30–44

18%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

51%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

18%

Healthcare

10%

Office and admin

Production

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Construction and repair

Management

Food service

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.8%

Computer and math

0.4%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

14%

Retail

12%

Manufacturing

12%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

11%

Education

10%

Other services

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$41,651

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.1%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	33853	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$41,846	$74,888
Service	$32,283	$26,804
Sales and office	$44,202	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$45,147	$49,199
Production and transportation	$39,766	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

37%

Some college

22%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

12%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.8%
Households with broadband: 85.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 59.3%
No internet access: 8.6%
Without health insurance: 10.9%
Limited-English households: 7.7%

Geography

City (USPS): Lake Wales
State: Florida
County: Polk County
Center point: 27.9008° N, 81.5857° W
Land area: 8.7 sq mi
Water area: 1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Lake Wales72% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 33853

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
33859	Lake Wales, FL	2.8 mi	11,824	$57,760	$215,300
33877	Waverly, FL	6.1 mi	159	—	—
33827	Babson Park, FL	7.1 mi	2,431	$54,556	$230,300
33820	Alturas, FL · PO box	7.3 mi	—	—	—
33845	Haines City, FL · PO box	7.3 mi	—	—	—
33885	Winter Haven, FL · PO box	7.3 mi	—	—	—
33884	Winter Haven, FL	8.2 mi	37,561	$70,443	$286,500
33838	Dundee, FL	8.2 mi	5,688	$50,766	$255,700
33856	Nalcrest, FL	10 mi	394	$37,622	—
33851	Lake Hamilton, FL	10 mi	1,212	$62,284	$236,400
33854	Lakeshore, FL	11 mi	781	$29,250	$90,000
33839	Eagle Lake, FL	12 mi	4,561	$70,000	$240,400

Zip codes like 33853 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 33853

What city is zip code 33853?

33853 is assigned to Lake Wales, Florida. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 33853 in?

33853 is in Polk County, Florida.

What is the population of 33853?

About 12,674 people live in 33853, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 33853 in?

33853 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 33853?

The median household income in 33853 is $44,474.

What zip codes are near 33853?

The closest zip codes to 33853 are 33859, 33877, 33827, 33820, 33845.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 33853, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.