Zip code 33859: Lake Wales, Florida

Q: What city is zip code 33859?

33859 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 33859 in?

33859 is in Polk County, Florida.

Q: What is the population of 33859?

About 11,824 people live in 33859, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 33859?

The median household income in 33859 is $57,760.

Q: What zip codes are near 33859?

The closest zip codes to 33859 are 33853, 33877, 33884, 33820, 33845.

Residential delivery areaPolk CountyEastern Time

Population

11,824

Median household income

$58K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$215K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,288/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

47.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

45 sq mi

260 people/sq mi

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

About 33859

33859 is a small-town zip code in Lake Wales, Florida (Polk County), covering 45 sq mi of land. About 11,824 people live here, or 260 per square mile. The median resident is 47.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $57,760 a year, 28% below the national median of $80,734. 23.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $215,300, or 3.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 72% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,288 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.1 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; office and administrative support; and education.

How 33859 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older32.5%
98th
U.S. 17.2% · FL 21.3%182nd of 977 in FL
Median age47.9
93rd
U.S. 38.9 · FL 42.6318th of 977 in FL
Housing vacancy18.6%
92nd
U.S. 10.1% · FL 14.7%261st of 969 in FL
Veterans10.4%
91st
U.S. 6.2% · FL 7.4%265th of 976 in FL
Poverty rate23.2%
90th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · FL 12.6%99th of 970 in FL
Uninsured rate10%
71st
U.S. 8.4% · FL 11.5%530th of 973 in FL
Rent-burdened renters55.5%
68th
U.S. 51.1% · FL 60.1%572nd of 945 in FL
Government workers16.4%
68th
U.S. 14.5% · FL 11.7%199th of 973 in FL
Self-employed workers10%
59th
U.S. 10% · FL 12.8%672nd of 973 in FL
Homeownership rate71.5%
57th
U.S. 65.2% · FL 67.6%561st of 969 in FL
Average commute27.1 min
57th
U.S. 26.4 min · FL 28 min520th of 948 in FL
Diversity index51.7
55th
U.S. 61.4 · FL 64.7439th of 977 in FL
Foreign-born residents9.6%
49th
U.S. 14.1% · FL 21.9%578th of 977 in FL
Median gross rent$1,288
42nd
U.S. $1,413 · FL $1,669652nd of 902 in FL
Bachelor's degree or higher25%
34th
U.S. 35.7% · FL 34.1%596th of 975 in FL
Unemployment rate3.7%
28th
U.S. 5.2% · FL 4.8%635th of 973 in FL
Income inequality (Gini)0.408
27th
U.S. 0.483 · FL 0.485744th of 968 in FL
Population density260/sq mi
24th
U.S. 95/sq mi · FL 418/sq mi708th of 977 in FL
Median home value$215,300
24th
U.S. $332,700 · FL $359,000771st of 935 in FL
Residents under 1818.1%
19th
U.S. 22% · FL 19.5%536th of 977 in FL
Population11,824
18th
U.S. 334,922,499 · FL 22,416,077671st of 977 in FL
Median household income$57,760
17th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · FL $74,568737th of 948 in FL
Per capita income$29,088
16th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · FL $42,609777th of 977 in FL
Broadband access86.2%
16th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · FL 91.6%806th of 969 in FL
Work from home6.7%
15th
U.S. 15.1% · FL 15.7%842nd of 975 in FL
Healthcare workers6.7%
13th
U.S. 9.7% · FL 9.5%790th of 973 in FL
Median earnings per worker$36,028
11th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · FL $44,337812th of 961 in FL
Tech workers0.8%
10th
U.S. 3.8% · FL 3.1%812th of 973 in FL

Measure	33859	Polk	FL	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in FL
Residents 65 and older	32.5%	19.5%	21.3%	17.2%	98th	182nd of 977
Median age	47.9	39.5	42.6	38.9	93rd	318th of 977
Housing vacancy	18.6%	15.1%	14.7%	10.1%	92nd	261st of 969
Veterans	10.4%	7.2%	7.4%	6.2%	91st	265th of 976
Poverty rateWeakness	23.2%	14.5%	12.6%	12.5%	90th	99th of 970
Uninsured rate	10%	12.4%	11.5%	8.4%	71st	530th of 973
Rent-burdened renters	55.5%	54.2%	60.1%	51.1%	68th	572nd of 945
Government workers	16.4%	10.3%	11.7%	14.5%	68th	199th of 973
Self-employed workers	10%	9%	12.8%	10%	59th	672nd of 973
Homeownership rate	71.5%	70.5%	67.6%	65.2%	57th	561st of 969
Average commute	27.1 min	30.5 min	28 min	26.4 min	57th	520th of 948
Diversity index	51.7	63.6	64.7	61.4	55th	439th of 977
Foreign-born residents	9.6%	12.6%	21.9%	14.1%	49th	578th of 977
Median gross rent	$1,288	$1,363	$1,669	$1,413	42nd	652nd of 902
Bachelor's degree or higher	25%	23.5%	34.1%	35.7%	34th	596th of 975
Unemployment rate	3.7%	4.8%	4.8%	5.2%	28th	635th of 973
Income inequality (Gini)	0.408	0.447	0.485	0.483	27th	744th of 968
Population density	260/sq mi	440/sq mi	418/sq mi	95/sq mi	24th	708th of 977
Median home value	$215,300	$266,500	$359,000	$332,700	24th	771st of 935
Residents under 18	18.1%	22%	19.5%	22%	19th	536th of 977
Population	11,824	790,694	22,416,077	334,922,499	18th	671st of 977
Median household incomeWeakness	$57,760	$65,978	$74,568	$80,734	17th	737th of 948
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,088	$33,249	$42,609	$44,673	16th	777th of 977
Broadband accessWeakness	86.2%	90.7%	91.6%	91%	16th	806th of 969
Work from home	6.7%	12.4%	15.7%	15.1%	15th	842nd of 975
Healthcare workers	6.7%	8.2%	9.5%	9.7%	13th	790th of 973
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,028	$41,311	$44,337	$49,666	11th	812th of 961
Tech workers	0.8%	2.7%	3.1%	3.8%	10th	812th 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

10%

18–24

11%

25–34

35–44

45–54

11%

55–64

17%

65–74

16%

75+

Median age

47.9

Under 18

18.1%

65 and over

32.5%

Race and ethnicity

White66%
Black13%
Hispanic19%
Asian0.5%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

51.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

9.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

40.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

81%

Spanish

14%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

0.9%

Households

Households: 4,863
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 66.9%
Married couples: 52.7%
Living alone: 25.5%
Veterans (of adults): 10.4%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

21%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

33859

$57,760

Polk Co.

$65,978

Florida

$74,568

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,088

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

23.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

6.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.408

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

33859

$215,300

Polk Co.

$266,500

Florida

$359,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

33859

$1,288

Polk Co.

$1,363

Florida

$1,669

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

53%

2–4 units

5–19 units

10%

20+ units

Mobile home

30%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 5,977
Owner-occupied: 71.5%
Vacant: 18.6%
Median year built: 1999
Median rooms: 5.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 55.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 33%
Home value to income: 3.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

0.8%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

24%

20–29

22%

30–44

32%

45–59

60+

Average commute

27.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

42.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

16%

Office and admin

13%

Education

13%

Transportation and moving

11%

Construction and repair

Management

Healthcare

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Production

Business and finance

Computer and math

0.8%

Engineering and science

0.5%

Industries

Retail

14%

Education

14%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Information

0.9%

Median earnings per worker

$36,028

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	33859	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$48,958	$74,888
Service	$25,188	$26,804
Sales and office	$32,214	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$45,978	$49,199
Production and transportation	$24,518	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

29%

Some college

23%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 90.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.7%
Households with broadband: 86.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 71.4%
No internet access: 11.6%
Without health insurance: 10%
Limited-English households: 5.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Lake Wales
State: Florida
County: Polk County
Center point: 27.8852° N, 81.6282° W
Land area: 45 sq mi
Water area: 2.9 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Alturas (unincorporated)23% of zip
Lake Wales20% of zip
Crooked Lake Park (unincorporated)1% of zip
Winter Haven1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 33859

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
33853	Lake Wales, FL	2.8 mi	12,674	$44,474	$209,300
33877	Waverly, FL	6.9 mi	159	—	—
33884	Winter Haven, FL	7.5 mi	37,561	$70,443	$286,500
33820	Alturas, FL · PO box	8.1 mi	—	—	—
33845	Haines City, FL · PO box	8.1 mi	—	—	—
33885	Winter Haven, FL · PO box	8.1 mi	—	—	—
33827	Babson Park, FL	8.2 mi	2,431	$54,556	$230,300
33838	Dundee, FL	9.2 mi	5,688	$50,766	$255,700
33839	Eagle Lake, FL	9.9 mi	4,561	$70,000	$240,400
33851	Lake Hamilton, FL	11 mi	1,212	$62,284	$236,400
33830	Bartow, FL	11 mi	33,740	$63,918	$228,900
33888	Winter Haven, FL · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 33859 elsewhere

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

Questions about 33859

What city is zip code 33859?

33859 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 33859 in?

33859 is in Polk County, Florida.

What is the population of 33859?

About 11,824 people live in 33859, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 33859 in?

33859 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 33859?

The median household income in 33859 is $57,760.

What zip codes are near 33859?

The closest zip codes to 33859 are 33853, 33877, 33884, 33820, 33845.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 33859, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.