16 Pros and Cons of Living in Lakeland, FL

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Lakeland Florida is centrally located, which can be positive or negative.

It is not all that far from the gulf or the Atlantic, but it’s still a distance.

Many interesting things are an hour away, though there are some things to keep your interest in Lakeland.

The weather is great but the summers are hot, and there are insects.

If you like hot summers and very mild winters, you will like Lakeland. 

What some people like about Lakeland, is what other people do not like about the town.

Pros of Living in Lakeland, FL

1. Location

Lakeland is an hour from the gulf coast or the Atlantic coast beaches, and an hour from Orlando.

St Petersburg and Tampa are also nearby.

You can get away from the tourists by going home, and still, enjoy all the activities easily.

It is also far enough from the coasts to avoid the brunt of a hurricane most of the time.

It is ranked as one of the best cities in the nation to retire to, and this is one of the main reasons.

2. Weather

It is in a tropical climate, so it never gets cold and you do not have seasons.

Summers can get pretty hot, but there are usually breezes and afternoon showers to cool things off to some degree.

If you like year-round spring and summer, this would be a good place. 

Rain is relatively predictable as well, but there are occasional hurricanes that can cause a lot of damage.

3. Rich history and culture

Lakeland was founded in 1885, and it has been through a lot of booms and busts over the years.

The downtown section is filled with historic buildings like the Polk Theater.

It is the site of the Polk historical museum and the Florida Air Museum.

The downtown has a historical district and an arts district.

There are many antique shops, art galleries, and other kinds of museums.

Even though the town is not old by some standards, it still has some history, and the cultural art makes it more interesting.

4. Golfer’s paradise

There are 16 golf courses within the city limits, and 24 more within 20 miles. 

There are a few municipal or public courses, and several private ones where you can still play.

The oldest course is the Bartow course, which was opened in 1921.

There are some championship-level courses that can be played here.

This is part of what makes Lakeland a great retirement destination.

5. Cost of living

Compared to some states, anywhere in Florida is not a cheap place to live, but by Florida standards, Lakeland has a lot to offer.

The overall cost of living is nine percent below the Florida average.

The cost for a family to live in Lakeland is $43,000. 

Houses are about 30 percent below the national average.

You can get a nice house here for $250,000. 

By comparison, Tampa housing is almost 20 percent higher than Lakeland.

6. Retirement

Lakeland is ranked in the top 20 nationally as one of the best places to retire in the nation. 

As noted, it has a lot of golf courses, and that is just the start.

Any outdoor activity you enjoy can be enjoyed year-round in Lakeland.

The warm weather will appeal to retirees, and the relatively lower cost of living is also a plus.

There is no state income tax in Florida, and social security benefits are not taxed.

Lakeland also has a good reputation for medical care and facilities.

7. Good education

Education is highly rated as compared to state and national public schools. 

Rankings are based on things like student-to-teacher ratio, graduation rates, as well as student reviews.

There are also opportunities for college, or for continuing education.

There is Florida Southern College, Southeastern University,  Polk State, and technical schools.

Colleges offer a solid education for people graduating from high school, and there are a lot of other educational opportunities for those beyond the school years.

8. Jobs and careers

Lakeland’s number of jobs increased 2.9 percent last year.

Over the next 10 years, it is expected to grow by 42 percent, which is better than the national average of 33 percent.

Major industries in Lakeland include manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, and tourism.

It is also close enough to Tampa or Orlando that you could commute, especially if you can work from home some days.

Cons of living in Lakeland, FL

1. Hot summer

There is a lot to like about the weather, but there is also a lot not to like.

Summers are very hot, humid, and sticky.

Nights do not cool down very much either.

While it does not get cold, there can be a lot of rain at times, and when that is combined with heat, it can feel miserable.

In some cities, it is too cold to be out, but in Lakeland, there is usually at least a month that is too hot to be outside.

When it is not too hot, it will probably be humid.

2. Wild Weather

The temperatures may be mild most of the year, but there are storms that cause damage and fear.

Hurricanes hit the coast at full speed but still have enough to pack a punch when they get this far inland.

There have been 70 hurricanes in the last 100 years, but none have caused catastrophic damage so far.

There can also be tornadoes, whether associated with a hurricane or not.

Violent thunderstorms can break out in summer, and there is occasional flooding.

3. Insects and Alligators

Insects love hot and humid weather, and they love this part of Florida.

There will be roaches, palmetto bugs, mosquitos, and many other pests that can make you miserable.

Even a very clean house can get roaches here.

You have to fight a battle to keep your home insect-free.

It can also be uncomfortable to be out at night because of the mosquitos.

Alligators are huge and normally stay in lakes and wet areas.

They do occasionally make their way into the city, or onto a local golf course.

They rarely cause problems unless provoked, but they can still be scary.

4. Traffic congestion

The winter is called Snowbird Season, which is when all the retirees and tourists descend on the city.

During those times, the city can get very crowded and it is hard to get around.

There is also no public transportation, so you have to have a car, which contributes to the traffic problem. 

Interstate 4 especially, is a route that goes from Tampa to Orlando, through Lakeland, and is often overcrowded at all hours.

Tourist season in summer, when people are headed to Orlando, the traffic gets very bad.

5. Crime and drugs

Lakeland is fairly safe for the most part, but it does have some crime as well as a reputation for gangs and drugs. 

The crime rate is a little higher than the state and national average, and some of that is due to it being a densely populated city.

Last year there were 2,470 property crimes per 100,000 and the national average is 1,918. 

Violent crime was closer to the national average, at 355 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 388.

There were, however, more rapes per 100,000 than the state or national average.

Lakeland had 50 per 100,000 and the national average is 38.

6. Densely populated

There are about 1800 people per square mile in Lakeland, making it a fairly densely populated city.

It is only slightly above average in density, but you can feel crowded at times.

If you like what feels like a fast pace, and a lot of people around all the time, you will like it here.

If that does not sound good to you, then you may not like it. 

A densely populated city can be hard to get around in and you will have to contend with crowds more.

It is worse in the tourist season.

7. No nightlife

There are a lot of things to do if you are a retiree, but young adults wanting nightlife may find it boring.

There are a few bars, but not many.

There are not many live music events or other things younger people might like to do after work.

If you come from a larger city with a thriving nightlife scene, you will notice the difference in Lakeland quickly.

8. Not pedestrian or bike friendly

Tourist organizations say a good walkability score is 70 for a city, and Lakeland is at 37.

Its cycling score of  52 is also below the state average.

Sometimes there are no sidewalks, or they are very narrow.

The city is trying to create some bike lanes, but there are not many.

The city was built for cars in an era where walking and cycling were not common means of transportation.

The city does have good infrastructure for cars though, and parking is always available.

Pros and Cons of Living in Lakeland, FL – Summary Table

Lakeland Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Lakeland Safety Review

Safety Index:

67

• OVERALL RISK: LOW
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
• MUGGING RISK: LOW
• TERRORISM RISK: LOW
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW