In Bartow, a typical home is worth $234,100 and typical rent is $1,142 a month. Compared with all of Polk County, typical rent is 16% lower and the typical home value is 12% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $226,645 to $276,179.
Typical rent
$1,785a month
▲ 4.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2024 to September 2026: from $1,674 to $1,785.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Bartow is in Polk County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Polk County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Bartow has the 13th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 434 cities in Florida with more than 5,000 people (41%).
2
Nearby, in Fort Meade, the typical home value is $175,900: 25% less than in Bartow ($234,100).
3
Nearby, in Fort Meade, the typical rent is $922: 19% less than in Bartow ($1,142).
4
The typical rent in Bartow is $1,142 a month, 16% less than in Polk County as a whole ($1,363).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Bartow
What homes there are in Bartow, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Bartow
Polk County
Florida
United States
Kind of home: Bartow and its comparisons
Measure
Bartow
Polk County
Florida
United States
Detached house
72%
62%
55%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
11%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
9%
25%
19%
Mobile home
7%
20%
8%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 72% of homes here, against 62% in Polk County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Bartow
Polk County
Florida
United States
Year built: Bartow and its comparisons
Measure
Bartow
Polk County
Florida
United States
Before 1960
28%
10%
10%
26%
1960–1979
23%
20%
24%
24%
1980–1999
20%
31%
34%
25%
2000–2009
19%
21%
18%
14%
2010 or later
11%
18%
14%
11%
Homes in Bartow are older: the typical year built is 1979; in Polk County, 1992.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K12%
$100K–$200K24%
$200K–$300K33%
$300K–$500K26%
$500K–$750K3%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Bartow and its comparisons
Measure
Bartow
Under $100K
12%
$100K–$200K
24%
$200K–$300K
33%
$300K–$500K
26%
$500K–$750K
3%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA loan limit for Polk County is $541,287, and about 96% of owner-occupied homes in Bartow are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99925%
$1,000–$1,49926%
$1,500–$1,99920%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Bartow and its comparisons
Measure
Bartow
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
25%
$1,000–$1,499
26%
$1,500–$1,999
20%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,587 a month
Polk County: $1,716 a month
Without a mortgage
$475 a month
Polk County: $545 a month
Owners with a mortgage
57%
Polk County: 56%
Owning costs less in Bartow: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,587 a month; in Polk County, $1,716. Without one, $475.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Bartow+71%
Polk County+77%
Florida+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Bartow+36%
Polk County+39%
Florida+42%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Bartow+43%
Polk County+30%
Florida+34%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Bartow and its comparisons
Measure
Bartow
Polk County
Florida
United States
Typical home value
+71%
+77%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+36%
+39%
+42%
+33%
Typical household income
+43%
+30%
+34%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Bartow rose 71%; in Polk County, it rose 77%.
Rents in Bartow rose more slowly than in Polk County: 36% since 2015–2019, against 39%.
The typical household income in Bartow rose 43% over that time; home values changed +71% and rent +36%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Bartow and its comparisons
Measure
Bartow
Polk County
Florida
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.1%
7.6%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.5%
1.4%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
3.4%
3.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.60
2.68
2.51
2.53
Drive alone
79%
75%
70%
69%
Carpool
11%
9%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
8%
12%
16%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Bartow look like those in Polk County: 2.60 people on average.
To get to work, 79% of workers in Bartow drive alone; in Polk County, 75%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Bartow?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Bartow, worth $234,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Bartow, which is $68,178 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $79,951 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Polk County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Bartow. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,194 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,866
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$229,859
Total interest
$330,714
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,953 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,591 a month
Tight
$1,591 to $2,045 a month
Your payment · 33%
Hard
more than $2,045 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Bartow ($68,178 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,557
Property tax
$107
Home insurance
$98
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$104
You need at least $8,194 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,866; principal and interest $1,557.
The city and its county
Bartow and Polk County
Bartow is in Polk County, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Bartow
Map of Polk County, Florida, with Bartow marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Bartow
Polk County
Other cities with a page
Bartow's own numbers
Typical home value
$234,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,142
Typical yearly household income
$68,178
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.55%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Polk County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,608
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.9%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Polk County.
A typical home in Bartow is worth $234,100: 12% below the county and 35% below Florida. With the typical household income in Bartow ($68,178 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Bartow3.4 years
Polk4.0 years
Florida4.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Polk County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Polk County rose 141% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Polk County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Polk County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +8.8% +8.8% 2016
2017: +9.9% +9.9% 2017
2018: +10.8% +10.8% 2018
2019: +7.0% +7.0% 2019
2020: +7.2% +7.2% 2020
2021: +16.6% +16.6% 2021
2022: +23.5% +23.5% 2022
2023: +8.6% +8.6% 2023
2024: +2.4% +2.4% 2024
2025: −1.2% −1.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Polk County, Florida and the United States
Period
County
Florida
U.S.
Last year (2025)
−1.2%
−0.5%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+58%
+60%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+141%
+127%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Bartow next to Polk County, Florida and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Bartow$234,100
Polk$266,500
Florida$359,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Bartow$1,142
Polk$1,363
Florida$1,669
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Bartow$68,178
Polk$65,978
Florida$74,568
United States$80,734
See the full table
Bartow next to Polk County and Florida
Measure
Bartow
Polk County
Florida
U.S.
Typical home value
$234,100 ▼12% below the county
$266,500
$359,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,142 ▼16% below the county
$1,363
$1,669
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$68,178 ▲3% above the county
$65,978
$74,568
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▼5 points below the county
70%
68%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,281 ▼34% below the county
$1,933
$2,730
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.55% ▼0.18 points below the county
0.73%
0.76%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
41% ▼13 points below the county
54%
60%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Polk County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bartow
For a typical $234,100 home in Bartow, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Bartow's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,866a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,194
Cash to close
$15,217
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $104
Conventional, 5% down$1,823a month
Down payment
$11,705
Cash to close
$18,728
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $111
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,474a month
Down payment
$46,820
Cash to close
$53,843
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,690a month
Down payment
$35,115
Cash to close
$42,138
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bartow
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,866
$8,194
$229,860
7.18%
FHA MIP · $104
$15,217
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,823
$11,705
$222,395
7.18%
PMI · $111
$18,728
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,474
$46,820
$187,280
7.18%
None
$53,843
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,690
$35,115
$198,985
8.18%
None
$42,138
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Bartow is $1,142 a month: 16% below the county. In Bartow, 41% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Polk County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,608 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $30.92 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Polk County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,258
$24.19
$50,320
1 bedroom
$1,338
$25.73
$53,520
2 bedrooms
$1,608
$30.92
$64,320
3 bedrooms
$2,212
$42.54
$88,480
4 bedrooms
$2,688
$51.69
$107,520
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Bartow
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Bartow is in ZIP code 33830.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,350: $258 less than the fair market rent for Polk County ($1,608).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Bartow, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
33830
$1,110
$1,120
$1,350
$1,860
$2,260
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
33830 $1,350$1,860
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Bartow when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Bartow. These are the largest.
Meetinghouse at Bartow1400 Old Bartow Eagle Lake Rd, Bartow 33830160 low-income homes · 1 bd: 80 · 2 bd: 80 · In service since 2005 · For older adults
Summerlin Oaks980 E Church St, Bartow 33830144 low-income homes · 2 bd: 72 · 3 bd: 64 · 4 bd: 8 · In service since 2007 · For families
Azalea Gardens (BARTOW)1050 Golfview Ave, Bartow 33830120 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 66 · 3 bd: 42 · In service since 1998 · For families(863) 533-7796
Manor at West Bartow850 Gordon Ave, Bartow 33830100 low-income homes · 1 bd: 50 · 2 bd: 50 · In service since 2009 · For older adults
Carver Village1060 S Woodlawn Ave, Bartow 3383082 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of Bartow · Average payment: $357 a month · Average wait: 33 months(863) 533-6311
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Polk County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Bartow or Polk County. The ones below are statewide in Florida: they work in Bartow the same as in the rest of the state.
Florida Housing second loan with no interest and no monthly payments, repaid when you sell or refinance.Offered by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
No legal help resource on our list is for Bartow or Polk County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Bartow and all of Polk County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Bartow?
The typical home value in Bartow is $234,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Polk County it is $266,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Bartow?
Typical rent in Bartow is $1,142 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Polk County is $1,608.
What is the FHA loan limit in Bartow?
Bartow uses the FHA limit for all of Polk County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Bartow?
The typical homeowner in Bartow pays $1,281 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.55% of the home’s value; in Polk County, the rate is 0.73%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Bartow?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Polk County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
