ZIP Code · FL

ZIP 33881

Part of Winter Haven, FL

Pop. 40,808·Polk County·508th most expensive ZIP in Florida

Median rent (all units)

$1,756/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.2%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$176

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 33881 · $1,756

More affordable than 54% 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

$1,120

1 BR

$1,130

2 BR

$1,370

3 BR

$1,850

4 BR+

$2,300

Research median

$1,370/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 33881 is 0.3% below its high of $1,762 in July 2026, at $1,756 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Florida

Rent in ZIP 33881 changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 623 Florida ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 33881 rose 55.2% while median household income rose 39.4% ($40,897 to $57,024). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 33881 is 59.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($57,024) is $1,426 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,370); a 3-bedroom is $1,850.

Rank in Winter Haven

2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Winter Haven.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 33880, 7 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,477/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 33881. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$21,072/yr

At $1,756/mo median

Location

CityWinter Haven

StateFL

CountyPolk County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.2% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 33881 (Winter Haven, FL) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 17.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

40,808

Median income

$57,024

Median age

40.6

Renters

28.2%

Age distribution

20.7%

21.8%

22.5%

23.3%

Under 1820.7%

18–3421.8%

35–5422.5%

55–6411.7%

65+23.3%

Gender

47.4%

52.6%

Male47.4%

Female52.6%

Race & ethnicity

43.6%

27.6%

26.7%

White43.6%

Black27.6%

Hispanic26.7%

Asian0.8%

Other1.2%

Education (25+)

15.5%

35.3%

31.8%

17.4%

No HS diploma15.5%

HS diploma35.3%

Some college31.8%

Bachelor's+17.4%

Housing tenure

71.8%

28.2%

Owner71.8%

Renter28.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 33881 in Winter Haven, FL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,256 → $1,756

up 39.8%

Income

$45,910 → $57,024

up 24.2%

Population

35,142 → 40,808

up 16.1%

Renter share

30.3% → 28.2%

-2.1 pts

Bachelor's+

17.2% → 17.4%

+0.2 pts

Median age

43.9 → 40.6

-3.3 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 33881 in Winter Haven, FL has increased from $1,256 to $1,756, a 39.8% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $45,910 to $57,024 across the same window, up 24.2% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 16.1% since 2021, moving from about 35,142 residents to roughly 40,808. Renters now make up 28.2% of households, compared with 30.3% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 33881 in Winter Haven, FL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 33881

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 33881 covers Winter Haven, FL. The median rent here is $1,756/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,130/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,370/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($57,024/yr), ZIP 33881 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 33881?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $70,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,756/mo in ZIP 33881. The local median household income is $57,024/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 33881?

Rent in ZIP 33881 has risen 3.2% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $1,762 in July 2026.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 33881?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 33881 rose 55.2% while median household income rose 39.4%, from $40,897 to $57,024. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 33881 compare to other ZIPs in Florida?

ZIP 33881 is one of the more affordable among Florida ZIP codes for rent, ranking #508 of 656 at $1,756/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 33881 changed +3.2%, against a typical +1.8% across the 623 Florida ZIP codes Zillow tracks.