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Living in
Auburndale.
About
Life in Auburndale
Life in Auburndale is quietly comfortable if you're willing to embrace Central Florida's particular brand of reality. This city of about 17,400 people sits in the sweet spot between Tampa (40 minutes west) and Orlando (just under an hour east), making it genuinely useful for commuting to either job market without living in the thick of urban chaos—your average commute runs about 30 minutes. Housing here is affordable compared to what you'll find in those metro centers, with median home values around $296,200 and rents averaging $1,208 a month, which buys you real space and actual property instead of being house-poor.
Auburndale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Foreign-Born
11.1%
Broadband Internet
93.5%
of households
Population Growth
+37.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Auburndale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Auburndale, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.8%), and 18.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.1%
of households
Married Couples
53.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.83
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 28% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Auburndale
In Auburndale, rent runs 28% below the FL average, and home values are 17% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,865
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $303,592 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Auburndale
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Auburndale, is 0.9 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Auburndale: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Auburndale is about 2% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Auburndale Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute33.3 min avg
How Auburndale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Auburndale, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 39 mi
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Major hub28.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 56% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Auburndale runs 56% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
144.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,641.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Auburndale Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2024
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Auburndale, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2024.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | Tornado | $80,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Hail | $50.0M |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $43,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Tropical Storm | $275,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.1M |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Auburndale is about 2% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, which includes Auburndale, is typically good — 339 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
339
per year
Moderate Days
16
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Polk County, county-wide
Auburndale is about 2% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 54°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Auburndale has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and warm winters (avg low 54°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/67°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
53.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
121
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F | 52°F | 2.49" |
| Feb | 76°F | 55°F | 2.44" |
| Mar | 80°F | 59°F | 3.04" |
| Apr | 85°F | 63°F | 2.50" |
| May | 90°F | 69°F | 2.67" |
| Jun | 92°F | 74°F | 7.36" |
| Jul | 93°F | 75°F | 7.44" |
| Aug | 93°F | 76°F | 6.52" |
| Sep | 91°F | 74°F | 5.31" |
| Oct | 86°F | 68°F | 2.22" |
| Nov | 80°F | 60°F | 1.45" |
| Dec | 74°F | 55°F | 2.68" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Auburndale
Uninsured
14.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Auburndale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Winter Haven Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Winter Haven
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Lakeland
Adventhealth Heart of Florida
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.4 mi away · Davenport
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education21.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Auburndale
Auburndale's student/teacher ratio is 21.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Auburndale (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,180 students · in-state tuition $2,694 · 35% graduate · median earnings $44,710 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,813 students · in-state tuition $33,740 · 44% graduate · median earnings $49,323 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,656 students · in-state tuition $46,168 · 66% graduate · median earnings $60,802 (10 yrs after entry)
Florida Polytechnic University
4.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 1,689 students · in-state tuition $4,940 · 54% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: De Soto National Memorial, 65 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Auburndale
Auburndale has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being De Soto National Memorial (65 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
65 mi awayCanaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
79 mi awayPublic Libraries in Auburndale
Auburndale Public Library
100 W Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale
Cities Near Auburndale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Auburndale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Auburndale FAQ
Is Auburndale, Florida affordable?⌄
Auburndale's median rent is $1,208/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $77,911/year. Median home value is $296,200.
Is Auburndale, Florida safe?⌄
Auburndale's violent crime rate was 145 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1641 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Auburndale, Florida?⌄
Polk County, which includes Auburndale, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Auburndale, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Auburndale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,208/month and median household income is $77,911/year. The median home value is $296,200. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Auburndale, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Auburndale is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from