© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Haines City.
About
Life in Haines City
The median home price hovers around $288,900 with rents averaging $1,216 monthly, making it accessible for families and first-time buyers, though you'll want to factor in that median household income sits at $65,975. The heat and humidity are real trade-offs—summers are genuinely hot and dry due to the sandy terrain—but you get reliable sunshine and easy access to outdoor recreation, with state parks and natural areas within driving distance. The community itself is still developing, with solid public schools through Polk County and a small but growing restaurant scene with around 92 establishments.
Haines City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.1%
Foreign-Born
21.1%
Broadband Internet
91.2%
of households
Population Growth
+67.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Haines City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Haines City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.8%), and 43.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.5%
of households
Married Couples
47.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.95
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 27% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Haines City
In Haines City, rent runs 27% below the FL average, and home values are 20% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,153
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $292,902 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Haines City
Unemployment in Haines City is 1.3 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Haines City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute35.5 min avg
How Haines City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Haines City, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 43% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 30 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 75% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Haines City runs 75% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
83.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
551.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Haines City 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 Haines City, 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
Haines City is about 4% 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 Haines City, 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
Haines City is about 4% 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
Haines City 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
53.4"
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Haines City
Haines City has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
17.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Adventhealth Heart of Florida
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Adventhealth Heart of Florida · 40100 Hwy 27
- Emergency department: Advent Health Winter Haven ER · 6945 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · Kissimmee
Winter Haven Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Winter Haven
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education21.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Haines City
Haines City's student/teacher ratio is 21.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Haines City (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,180 students · in-state tuition $2,694 · 35% graduate · median earnings $44,710 (10 yrs after entry)
Florida Polytechnic University
14.2 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: Canaveral National Seashore, 70 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Haines City
Haines City has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Canaveral National Seashore (70 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Canaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
70 mi awayDe Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Haines City
Haines City Public Library
111 N. 6th Street, Haines City
Cities Near Haines City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Haines City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Haines City FAQ
Is Haines City, Florida affordable?⌄
Haines City's median rent is $1,224/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $65,975/year. Median home value is $288,900.
Is Haines City, Florida safe?⌄
Haines City's violent crime rate was 84 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 551 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Haines City, Florida?⌄
Haines City has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Haines City, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Haines City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,224/month and median household income is $65,975/year. The median home value is $288,900. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Haines City, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Haines City is 36 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