How much are property taxes in Lake Wales, FL?

Name: Property taxes in Lake Wales, FL, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Homeowners in Lake Wales, FL pay a median of $2,171 (±$293) a year in real estate taxes (2020–2024 American Community Survey, table B25103).

Homes with a mortgage pay a median of $2,224.

Homes without a mortgage pay a median of $2,103.

That is about 0.9% of the median home value of $239,300.

In Lake Wales, the median real estate tax went from $1,455 in 2015–2019 to $2,171 in 2020–2024 (+49.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median real estate taxes: $2,171 (±$293)
With a mortgage: $2,224
Without a mortgage: $2,103
Share of median value: 0.9%

Real estate taxes in Lake Wales against Polk County, its state and the nation

Median real estate taxes paid a year, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Lake Wales	Polk County	Florida	United States
Median real estate taxes	$2,171 (±$293)	$1,933 (±$35)	$2,730 (±$10)	$3,119
Homes with a mortgage	$2,224 (±$416)	$2,291 (±$53)	$2,993 (±$15)	$3,489
Homes without a mortgage	$2,103 (±$412)	$1,417 (±$48)	$2,319 (±$16)	$2,576
Median home value	$239,300 (±$12,723)	$266,500 (±$3,458)	$359,000 (±$930)	$332,700

In Lake Wales, the median real estate tax is not measurably different from Polk County ($1,933).

It is also lower than in Florida ($2,730).

It is lower than the national figure ($3,119).

In Polk County, Lake Wales ranks 13 of 36 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median real estate taxes.

Statewide, it ranks 462 of 825.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Taxes as a share of home value in Lake Wales

The median tax ($2,171) is 0.9% of the median home value ($239,300).

Across Polk County the same ratio is 0.7%.

Across Florida it is 0.8%.

This is a ratio of two medians, a rough effective rate: not the tax rate or mill rate the town, county or school district sets, and not any one home’s bill.

Owners report what they paid and what they think their home is worth; the assessor’s office publishes the actual rates and assessments.

How property taxes in Lake Wales have changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median real estate taxes	$1,455 (±$184)	$2,171 (±$293)	+49.2%	Up after inflation
Median home value	$167,400 (±$12,816)	$239,300 (±$12,723)	+43.0%	Up after inflation
Median owner cost with a mortgage	$1,304 (±$45)	$1,504 (±$139)	+15.3%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median real estate taxes in places near Lake Wales

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Lake Wales
Place	Distance	Median real estate taxes	Compared with this place
Lake Wales	—	$2,171 (±$293)	—
Highland Park	4.5 mi	$3,794 (±$802)	Higher
Crooked Lake Park	6.3 mi	$1,299 (±$275)	Lower
Dundee	6.7 mi	$1,490 (±$899)	Not measurably different
Alturas	7.4 mi	$1,084 (±$222)	Lower
Babson Park	7.4 mi	$914 (±$560)	Lower
Hillcrest Heights	7.7 mi	$2,293 (±$881)	Not measurably different
Cypress Gardens	8.0 mi	$1,860 (±$180)	Not measurably different
Wahneta	8.3 mi	$912 (±$401)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Crooked Lake Park, FL ($1,299), Alturas, FL ($1,084), Babson Park, FL ($914).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Highland Park, FL ($3,794).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Median real estate taxes across Polk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median real estate taxes
7	Highland City	$2,485 (±$205)
8	Hillcrest Heights	$2,293 (±$881)
9	Grenelefe	$2,270 (±$964)
10	Winter Haven	$2,247 (±$151)
11	Poinciana	$2,219 (±$170)
12	Medulla	$2,188 (±$231)
13	Lake Wales	$2,171 (±$293)
14	Eagle Lake	$2,151 (±$406)
15	Lake Hamilton	$1,968 (±$646)
16	Auburndale	$1,865 (±$143)
17	Cypress Gardens	$1,860 (±$180)
18 (tie)	Fuller Heights	$1,819 (±$263)
18 (tie)	Lakeland	$1,819 (±$113)

Showing 13 of 36 places in Polk County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Lake Wales

How much are property taxes in Lake Wales?

The median real estate tax paid by homeowners in Lake Wales, FL is $2,171 (±$293) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What is the property tax rate in Lake Wales?

The Census Bureau does not publish tax rates; as a rough guide, the median tax paid is 0.9% of the median home value in Lake Wales, and the actual rate is set by the town, county and school district.

Have property taxes in Lake Wales gone up?

In Lake Wales, the median real estate tax went from $1,455 in 2015–2019 to $2,171 in 2020–2024 (+49.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

Are property taxes in Lake Wales higher than in Polk County?

In Lake Wales, the median real estate tax is not measurably different from Polk County ($1,933).

It is also lower than in Florida ($2,730).

It is lower than the national figure ($3,119).

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Lake Wales city, Florida (place:38950, in state:12).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M, B25088_002E, B25088_002M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25103_002E, B25103_002M, B25103_003E, B25103_003M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.