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Living in
Plant City.
About
Life in Plant City
Plant City offers an affordable option within the Tampa Bay region if you're willing to accept a modest commute—most residents spend around 28 minutes getting to work, typically heading toward Tampa or other employment centers. Housing costs are reasonable compared to the broader Tampa area, with median home values around $291,800 and median rent at $1,409 monthly, though the job market here is limited, so employment prospects depend largely on access to surrounding areas. The economy is anchored by agriculture, particularly strawberry production, which means the city has a working-class character and seasonal rhythms that reflect that reality.
Plant City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Foreign-Born
14.5%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+10.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Plant City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Plant City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (45.7%), and 26.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.6%
of households
Married Couples
44.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
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 16% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Plant City
In Plant City, rent runs 16% below the FL average, and home values are 19% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,945
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $337,742 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Plant City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Plant City is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Plant City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area
Commute28.2 min avg
How Plant City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Plant City, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 25 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 36% above national average
Crime rates for 2022
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2022. It's compared with the national rate for 2022.
Violent crime in Plant City runs 36% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
540.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (398 national, 2022)
Property Crime Rate
1,969
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,999 national, 2022)
Plant City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hillsborough, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hillsborough County, which includes Plant City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $276,000 |
| 2023 | 5 | Hail | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60.1M |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $570,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $611,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $315,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hillsborough County, county-wide
Plant City is about 3% of Hillsborough County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hillsborough County, which includes Plant City, is typically good — 194 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
194
per year
Moderate Days
169
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hillsborough County, county-wide
Plant City is about 3% of Hillsborough County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 52°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Plant City has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and warm winters (avg low 52°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
86°/61°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
56.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
111
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
122
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°F | 50°F | 3.00" |
| Feb | 78°F | 53°F | 2.33" |
| Mar | 81°F | 56°F | 2.78" |
| Apr | 86°F | 61°F | 2.88" |
| May | 91°F | 67°F | 4.04" |
| Jun | 93°F | 72°F | 9.71" |
| Jul | 94°F | 73°F | 8.65" |
| Aug | 94°F | 74°F | 8.85" |
| Sep | 92°F | 72°F | 6.99" |
| Oct | 87°F | 66°F | 2.58" |
| Nov | 81°F | 58°F | 1.76" |
| Dec | 77°F | 53°F | 2.54" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Plant City
Plant City has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
South Florida Baptist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.5 mi away · Lakeland
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.8 mi away · Brandon
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.
Education18.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Plant City
Plant City's student/teacher ratio is 18.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Plant City (within 15 miles)
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)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,107 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 20% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 251 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · median earnings $44,255 (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, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Plant City
Plant City has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being De Soto National Memorial (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
47 mi awayCanaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Plant City
Bruton Memorial Library
302 Mclendon Street, Plant City
Cities Near Plant City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Plant City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Plant City FAQ
Is Plant City, Florida affordable?⌄
Plant City's median rent is $1,409/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $67,439/year. Median home value is $291,800.
Is Plant City, Florida safe?⌄
Plant City's violent crime rate was 540 per 100,000 residents in 2022, which is above the national average of 398/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1969 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Plant City, Florida?⌄
Plant City has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Plant City, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Plant City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,409/month and median household income is $67,439/year. The median home value is $291,800. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Plant City, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Plant City is 28 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