Rents are 11% below what Winter Haven's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,686 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Winter Haven is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Winter Haven changed +2.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 270 Florida cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Winter Haven rose 46.3% while median household income rose 27.8% ($46,669 to $59,648). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Winter Haven is 48.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($59,648) is $1,491 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,317); a 3-bedroom is $1,770.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Winter Haven, 33884 ($1,826/mo), costs 24% more than the cheapest, 33880 ($1,477/mo).
Lake Wales, 17 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,512/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Winter Haven. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Winter Haven, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 22% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Winter Haven, FL has changed in 5 years
Rent in Winter Haven, FL has climbed 32.7% since 2021, going from about $1,271 per month to roughly $1,686 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $50,842 in 2021 to $59,648 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 15.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 48,707 to 55,200 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.3% change. About 36.3% of households rent today, against 40.9% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 20% to 22%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Winter Haven, FL market of 2021.
Discussions about Winter Haven
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Can you afford rent in Winter Haven on your salary?
At $1,686/mo, how Winter Haven rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Winter Haven rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Winter Haven. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Winter Haven
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Winter Haven is $1,686/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,070/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,317/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,073/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,770/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($59,648/yr), Winter Haven ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Winter Haven?
Has rent outpaced income in Winter Haven?
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How does Winter Haven rent compare to other cities in Florida?
At $1,686/mo, rent takes ~34% of Winter Haven's median household income ($59,648/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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