ZIP Code Tabulation Area · Florida

ZIP Code 33853: Lake Wales, FL

ZIP Code 33853 (Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida) has an estimated 12,674 residents in 4,923 households. The median household income is $44,474, the median home value is $209,300 and the median gross rent is $1,059/mo. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the matching ZIP Code Tabulation Area.

American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates · Updated

Total population

12,674

Margin of error ±881

Median household income

$44,474

Margin of error ±$9,152

Median home value

$209,300

Margin of error ±$16,171

Median gross rent

$1,059/mo

Margin of error ±$135

Median age

37.6 yrs

Margin of error ±3.7 yrs

Mean travel time to work

22.6 min

Margin of error ±4.7 min

How ZIP 33853 compares with Florida and the U.S.

State and national figures are the Census Bureau's own estimates for those areas from the same ACS release, not averages of ZIP codes.

Median age

ZIP 3385337.6 yrsFlorida42.6 yrsUnited States38.9 yrs

Median household income

ZIP 33853$44,474Florida$74,568United States$80,734

Per capita income

ZIP 33853$25,161Florida$42,609United States$44,673

Poverty rate

ZIP 3385321.2%Florida12.6%United States12.5%

Unemployment rate

ZIP 338537.3%Florida4.8%United States5.2%

Bachelor's degree or higher

ZIP 3385316.3%Florida34.1%United States35.7%

Median home value

ZIP 33853$209,300Florida$359,000United States$332,700

Median gross rent

ZIP 33853$1,059/moFlorida$1,669/moUnited States$1,413/mo

Owner-occupied homes

ZIP 3385353.0%Florida67.6%United States65.2%

Mean travel time to work

ZIP 3385322.6 minFlorida28.0 minUnited States26.4 min

Worked from home

ZIP 338537.3%Florida15.7%United States15.1%

All figures for ZIP 33853

Each estimate has a 90% margin of error: the true value is likely within that range. * marks estimates with a large margin of error (a coefficient of variation above 30%, or ±10 percentage points or more for rates).

ZIP 33853 — ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
MeasureZIP 33853Margin of errorFloridaUnited States
Total population12,674±88122,416,077334,922,499
Median age37.6 yrs±3.7 yrs42.6 yrs38.9 yrs
Households4,923±3638,752,810129,227,496
Median household income$44,474±$9,152$74,568$80,734
Per capita income$25,161±$2,233$42,609$44,673
Poverty rate21.2%±4.6 pts12.6%12.5%
Unemployment rate7.3%±3.1 pts4.8%5.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher16.3%±3.1 pts34.1%35.7%
Median home value$209,300±$16,171$359,000$332,700
Median gross rent$1,059/mo±$135$1,669/mo$1,413/mo
Owner-occupied homes53.0%±4.5 pts67.6%65.2%
Mean travel time to work22.6 min±4.7 min28.0 min26.4 min
Worked from home7.3%±3.5 pts15.7%15.1%

Race and Hispanic or Latino origin

Shares of the total population by the Census Bureau's race and Hispanic or Latino origin categories (table B03002), listed in the Census Bureau's order. People self-identify on the survey.

Population by race and Hispanic or Latino origin, ZIP 33853
GroupZIP 33853FloridaUnited States
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino37.8%50.4%57.4%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino22.3%14.6%11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino0.3%0.1%0.5%
Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino1.0%2.9%5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino0.0%0.1%0.2%
Some other race alone, not Hispanic or Latino0.0%0.7%0.6%
Two or more races, not Hispanic or Latino1.4%3.8%4.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)37.2%27.4%19.3%

Where ZIP 33853 is

State
Florida
Main county
Polk County
Largest overlapping place
Lake Wales (72% of the ZIP's land area)
Land area
8.66 sq mi· about 1,464 people per sq mi

County and place names come from the Census Bureau's 2020 ZCTA relationship files. A ZIP code's mailing city, set by the U.S. Postal Service, can differ from these names.

Other ZIP codes in Polk County

33827 Polk County, FL33830 Bartow, FL33835 Bradley Junction, FL33837 Polk County, FL33838 Dundee, FL33839 Eagle Lake, FL33841 Polk County, FL33843 Polk County, FL33844 Polk County, FL33847 Homeland, FL33849 Polk County, FL33850 Lake Alfred, FL33851 Lake Hamilton, FL33854 Polk County, FL33855 Indian Lake Estates, FL33856 Polk County, FL33858 Loughman, FL33859 Alturas, FL33860 Polk County, FL33867 Polk County, FL33868 Polk County, FL33877 Waverly, FL33880 Polk County, FL33881 Winter Haven, FL

See every ZIP code in Florida, or compare ZIP 33853 with another ZIP code.

Census figures describe residents as a group and cannot tell you about any one home or street. For a specific address, check local government and housing records.

About ZIP codes and ZCTAs: the Census Bureau publishes statistics for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP code delivery areas. Learn how they differ.

Sources

  • U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, detailed tables B01003, B01002, B11001, B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003, B25077, B25064, B25003, B08013, B08303, B08301, B03002 — snapshot Oct 26, 2026.
  • U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA5 relationship files (county and place).
  • Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (detailed tables) and 2020 Census ZCTA relationship files. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. These agencies do not endorse OpenZIP.