ZIP Code · FL

ZIP 33809

Part of Lakeland, FL

Pop. 30,797·Polk County·569th most expensive ZIP in Florida

Median rent (all units)

$1,615/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.7%

Month-over-Month

-0.6%

vs US Median

-$317

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 33809 · $1,615

More affordable than 64% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,390

1 BR

$1,400

2 BR

$1,700

3 BR

$2,300

4 BR+

$2,850

Research median

$1,700/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 33809 is 1.3% below its high of $1,636 in June 2026, at $1,615 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Florida

Rent in ZIP 33809 changed +1.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 623 Florida ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($70,066) is $1,752 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,700); a 3-bedroom is $2,300.

Rank in Lakeland

4th cheapest of 9 ZIP codes in Lakeland.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 33809. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,380/yr

At $1,615/mo median

Location

CityLakeland

StateFL

CountyPolk County

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 (+1.7% YoY, -0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 33809 (Lakeland, FL) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 27.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,797

Median income

$70,066

Median age

42.3

Renters

35.8%

Age distribution

20.7%

21.6%

24.4%

12.1%

21.2%

Under 1820.7%

18–3421.6%

35–5424.4%

55–6412.1%

65+21.2%

Gender

48%

52%

Male48%

Female52%

Race & ethnicity

62.7%

22%

White62.7%

Black11.8%

Hispanic22%

Asian2.4%

Other1.1%

Education (25+)

31.8%

33%

27.3%

No HS diploma7.9%

HS diploma31.8%

Some college33%

Bachelor's+27.3%

Housing tenure

64.2%

35.8%

Owner64.2%

Renter35.8%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 33809 in Lakeland, FL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,430 → $1,615

up 12.9%

Income

$58,037 → $70,066

up 20.7%

Population

30,368 → 30,797

up 1.4%

Renter share

35.1% → 35.8%

+0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

24.7% → 27.3%

+2.6 pts

The median rent in ZIP 33809 in Lakeland, FL stood at $1,430 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,615, reflecting a 12.9% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $70,066 today, compared with $58,037 five years earlier. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 1.4% since 2021, moving from about 30,368 residents to roughly 30,797. College-educated residents now make up 27.3% of adults here, versus 24.7% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 33809

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 33809 covers Lakeland, FL. The median rent here is $1,615/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,400/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,700/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($70,066/yr), ZIP 33809 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 33809?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $65,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,615/mo in ZIP 33809. The local median household income is $70,066/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 33809?

Rent in ZIP 33809 has risen 1.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.3% below its high of $1,636 in June 2026.

How does ZIP 33809 compare to other ZIPs in Florida?

ZIP 33809 is one of the more affordable among Florida ZIP codes for rent, ranking #569 of 656 at $1,615/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 33809 changed +1.7%, against a typical +1.8% across the 623 Florida ZIP codes Zillow tracks.