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City Report · FL

Polk City

Pop. 2,974·248th most expensive in Florida·Rental market data updated monthly for Polk City, FL
Median rent (all units)
$1,763/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.3%
vs US Median
-$199
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Polk City · $1,763
More affordable than 56% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,763/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$71,000/yr
Local median income
$79,762/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Polk City's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

2 BR
$952
3 BR
$1,363
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$952/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,763 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$21,156/yr
At $1,763/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Polk City, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 22.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
2,974
Median income
$79,762
Median age
42
Renters
16.6%
Age distribution
19.4%
20.3%
30%
20.1%
Under 1819.4%
18–3420.3%
35–5430%
55–6410.2%
65+20.1%
Gender
49.1%
50.9%
Male49.1%
Female50.9%
Race & ethnicity
61.8%
37.9%
White61.8%
Black6.3%
Hispanic37.9%
Asian0.9%
Education (25+)
30.7%
37.5%
22.5%
No HS diploma9.3%
HS diploma30.7%
Some college37.5%
Bachelor's+22.5%
Housing tenure
83.4%
16.6%
Owner83.4%
Renter16.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Polk City, FL has changed in 5 years

Income
$59,069 → $79,762
up 35.0%
Population
2,637 → 2,974
up 12.8%
Renter share
17.8% → 16.6%
-1.2 pts
Bachelor's+
15.6% → 22.5%
+6.9 pts
Median age
47.7 → 42
-5.7 yrs

Median household income climbed from $59,069 to $79,762 between 2021 and 2024, a 35.0% shift. Census counts show Polk City, FL adding about 337 residents over the five-year window, up 12.8% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 15.6% to 22.5% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Polk City

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View Polk City rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Polk City on your salary?

At $1,763/mo, how Polk City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Polk City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Polk City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Polk City

About renting in Polk City, FL

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Polk City is $1,763/mo as of August 2026. a 2-bedroom runs $952/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,363/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($79,762/yr), Polk City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Polk City an affordable city for renters?

Polk City is considered affordable for renters. At $1,763/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($79,762/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Polk City falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Polk City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $71,000/year (~$34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,763/mo in Polk City. The local median household income is $79,762/yr, meaning the typical Polk City household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Polk City?

Rent in Polk City has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Polk City rent compare to other cities in Florida?

Polk City is one of the more affordable cities in Florida for rent, ranking #248 out of 291 tracked cities at $1,763/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Polk City?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Polk City ($1,763/mo): Lakeland ($1,727/mo), Winter Haven ($1,728/mo).

What percentage of Polk City residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 16.6% of Polk City households are renters, while 83.4% are owner-occupied. Polk City leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Polk City rent compare to the national average?

Polk City's median rent of $1,763/mo is $199 (10%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Florida, it ranks #248 out of 291 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,763/mo, rent takes ~27% of Polk City's median household income ($79,762/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Polk City 27%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
Run the Polk City affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Polk City, FL

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