Retiring in Lakeland, FL

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

92°/53°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$312,919

Housing (Typical Value)

377.8

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

1 of 5

Healthcare (Hospital Rating)

Is Lakeland Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 117,030, Lakeland offers a smaller-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Lower housing costs
Moderate city size
Low earthquake risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Wet climate
Limited hospital access
Elevated riverine flooding risk
Elevated tornado risk
Elevated hurricane risk

Potential advantages. The typical home value is $312,919, 16% below the $371,774 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign a lower risk designation to earthquake.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 92°F. Annual precipitation is 56.8 inches. The nearest hospital is Lakeland Regional Medical Center, 0.1 miles away. Its CMS quality rating is 1 of 5. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to riverine flooding, tornado and hurricane.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)92°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)53°F

Annual snowfall0"

Annual precipitation56.8"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$312,91916% below the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$1,299/monear the US median of $1,400/mo

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate377.8 /100,000near the US median of 359.1 /100,000

Property crime rate1702.2 /100,000near the US median of 1760.1 /100,000

Motor vehicle theft rate0 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalLakeland Regional Medical Center (0.1 mi)

Hospital quality★☆☆☆☆ (1 of 5)

Primary care accessAdequate (2,172 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index11.5/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population117,030Classified as a smaller city

Elevation203 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively High

Coastal floodingN/A

TornadoRelatively High

HurricaneVery High

WildfireRelatively Moderate

EarthquakeVery Low

Ice stormsN/A

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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