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Living in
Bartow.
About
Life in Bartow
If you're considering a move to Central Florida, Bartow offers something increasingly rare: a genuinely affordable small city with real Southern character that hasn't been completely swallowed by sprawl. With a median home value around $234,100 and median rent at $1,142, your money stretches further here than in nearby Lakeland or the Orlando metro, while the job market stays relatively stable thanks to government work (the Polk County School Board alone employs over 12,000 people), phosphate mining, and agriculture keeping the local economy grounded. The city's official nickname, "City of Oaks and Azaleas," isn't just marketing; three historic districts anchor a downtown where old churches and the 1909 Polk County Courthouse remind you this place has roots, and over 70 churches in the area reflect the deep evangelical Protestant culture that shapes local life.
Bartow at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.1%
Foreign-Born
5.5%
Broadband Internet
86.9%
of households
Population Growth
+20.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bartow: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bartow, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.4%), and 10.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
16.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.4%
of households
Married Couples
42.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.60
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 32% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Bartow
In Bartow, rent runs 32% below the FL average, and home values are 35% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,281
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $276,179 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Bartow
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Bartow, is 0.9 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Bartow: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Bartow is about 3% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Bartow Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.3 min avg
How Bartow residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bartow, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 42 mi
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Major hub12.1M 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 7% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bartow runs 7% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
351.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,019.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bartow 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 Bartow, 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
Bartow is about 3% 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 Bartow, 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
Bartow is about 3% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 51°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bartow has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 51°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/65°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
75°/51°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
121
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
101
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F | 50°F | 2.66" |
| Feb | 76°F | 52°F | 2.10" |
| Mar | 80°F | 56°F | 2.84" |
| Apr | 84°F | 61°F | 2.72" |
| May | 89°F | 66°F | 2.95" |
| Jun | 91°F | 71°F | 8.28" |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 7.56" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 7.78" |
| Sep | 90°F | 72°F | 7.31" |
| Oct | 85°F | 66°F | 3.03" |
| Nov | 79°F | 58°F | 1.49" |
| Dec | 75°F | 53°F | 2.16" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bartow
Bartow has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Bartow Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Winter Haven Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.3 mi away · Winter Haven
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.5 mi away · Lakeland
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.
Education17.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bartow
Bartow's student/teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bartow (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)
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, 56 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bartow
Bartow has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being De Soto National Memorial (56 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
56 mi awayCanaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bartow
Bartow Public Library
2150 S. Broadway Avenue, Bartow
Polk County Historical And Genealogical Library
100 East Main Street, Bartow
Polk County Law Library/Justice Steven H. Grimes Law Library
255 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow
Polk County Library Cooperative Office
2150 South Broadway Avenue, Bartow
Cities Near Bartow
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bartow?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bartow FAQ
Is Bartow, Florida affordable?⌄
Bartow's median rent is $1,142/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $68,178/year. Median home value is $234,100.
Is Bartow, Florida safe?⌄
Bartow's violent crime rate was 351 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1019 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bartow, Florida?⌄
Polk County, which includes Bartow, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bartow, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Bartow is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,142/month and median household income is $68,178/year. The median home value is $234,100. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bartow, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Bartow is 26 minutes, which is about 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