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Living in
Lakeland.
About
Life in Lakeland
Lakeland is a quiet suburban community in Shelby County that's grown steadily over the past decade, and it functions as a genuinely livable alternative to Memphis proper while still being part of the broader metro area. With a median household income around $116,250 and a median home value near $389,000, the cost of living here is reasonable for the region—you're getting suburban comfort without the price tag of many other mid-sized markets, and the homeowner vacancy rate is practically nonexistent, suggesting people actually want to stay put. The job market is solid at 4.4% unemployment, and while the economy isn't dominated by a single employer, the Memphis metro's diverse base in logistics, healthcare, and services means most professionals can find work; your average commute runs about 27 minutes, which is manageable for a suburb.
Lakeland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Foreign-Born
11.5%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.5% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Lakeland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lakeland, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (14.9%), and 5.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.0%
of households
Married Couples
57.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.67
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 48% above TN average
Rent, home values, and income in Lakeland
In Lakeland, rent runs 48% above the TN average, and home values are 36% above the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
38.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,880
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2000
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $446,748 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts above TN average
Unemployment in Lakeland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Shelby County, which includes Lakeland, is 1.1 percentage points higher than the TN average.
Unemployment rate
Lakeland: Shelby County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Shelby County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lakeland is about 2% of Shelby County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lakeland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area
Commute25.7 min avg
How Lakeland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lakeland, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Frederick W. Smith International Airport (MEM)
Small hub2.4M 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, which covers Lakeland, is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
329.2
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,331
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Shelby County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 43 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Shelby County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Shelby County, which includes Lakeland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 43 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | Heat | $191,500 |
| 2024 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $240,000 |
| 2023 | 45 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.1M |
| 2022 | 28 | Heat | $21,000 |
| 2021 | 23 | Flash Flood | $319,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $174,000 |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.3M |
| 2018 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $321,500 |
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.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Shelby County, county-wide
Lakeland is about 2% of Shelby County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Shelby County, which includes Lakeland, is typically good — 220 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
220
per year
Moderate Days
140
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Shelby County, county-wide
Lakeland is about 2% of Shelby County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate90°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lakeland has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.0"
Annual Snowfall
2.8"
Hot Days/Year
69
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
68
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 30°F | 4.34" |
| Feb | 54°F | 33°F | 4.77" |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 5.74" |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 5.85" |
| May | 81°F | 59°F | 5.48" |
| Jun | 88°F | 68°F | 4.71" |
| Jul | 91°F | 71°F | 4.53" |
| Aug | 91°F | 69°F | 3.39" |
| Sep | 85°F | 62°F | 3.74" |
| Oct | 75°F | 50°F | 4.20" |
| Nov | 62°F | 39°F | 4.75" |
| Dec | 52°F | 33°F | 5.68" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lakeland
Uninsured
3.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lakeland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Lakeside Behavioral Health System
Psychiatric · 4.2 mi away · Memphis
Saint Francis Bartlett Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Bartlett
Baptist Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.5 mi away · Memphis
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lakeland
Lakeland's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 53.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lakeland (within 15 miles)
Southwest Tennessee Community College
10.2 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 5,047 students · in-state tuition $5,217 · 20% graduate · median earnings $38,117 (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: Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail, 55 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lakeland
Lakeland has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (55 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
55 mi awayBrices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
National Battlefield Site
77 mi awayShiloh National Military Park
National Military Park
79 mi awayNatchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
86 mi awayTupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
89 mi awayEmmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
96 mi awayCities Near Lakeland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lakeland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lakeland FAQ
Is Lakeland, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Lakeland's median rent is $1,755/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $116,250/year. Median home value is $388,900.
Is Lakeland, Tennessee safe?⌄
Lakeland is policed by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 329 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1331 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lakeland, Tennessee?⌄
Shelby County, which includes Lakeland, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lakeland, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Lakeland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,755/month and median household income is $116,250/year. The median home value is $388,900. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lakeland, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Lakeland 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