In Medulla, a typical home is worth $319,800 and typical rent is $1,287 a month. Compared with all of Polk County, the typical home value is 20% higher and typical household income is 7% higher.
Medulla 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
Nearby, in Lakeland, the typical home value is $249,400: 22% less than in Medulla ($319,800).
2
The typical home in Medulla is worth $319,800,20% more than in Polk County as a whole ($266,500).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Medulla
What homes there are in Medulla, 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
Medulla
Polk County
Florida
United States
Kind of home: Medulla and its comparisons
Measure
Medulla
Polk County
Florida
United States
Detached house
56%
62%
55%
61%
Attached house
9%
3%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
15%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
9%
25%
19%
Mobile home
5%
20%
8%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Medulla (56%), but less so than in Polk County (62%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Medulla
Polk County
Florida
United States
Year built: Medulla and its comparisons
Measure
Medulla
Polk County
Florida
United States
Before 1960
Unreliable estimate
10%
10%
26%
1960–1979
14%
20%
24%
24%
1980–1999
44%
31%
34%
25%
2000–2009
22%
21%
18%
14%
2010 or later
16%
18%
14%
11%
In Medulla, half of the homes were built before 1995; in Polk County, before 1992.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K10%
$200K–$300K28%
$300K–$500K40%
$500K–$750K13%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Medulla and its comparisons
Measure
Medulla
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
10%
$200K–$300K
28%
$300K–$500K
40%
$500K–$750K
13%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49971%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Medulla and its comparisons
Measure
Medulla
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
71%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,706 a month
Polk County: $1,716 a month
Without a mortgage
$617 a month
Polk County: $545 a month
Owners with a mortgage
63%
Polk County: 56%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Medulla is $1,706 a month, near the figure in Polk County ($1,716).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Medulla+77%
Polk County+77%
Florida+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Medulla+23%
Polk County+39%
Florida+42%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Medulla+37%
Polk County+30%
Florida+34%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Medulla and its comparisons
Measure
Medulla
Polk County
Florida
United States
Typical home value
+77%
+77%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+23%
+39%
+42%
+33%
Typical household income
+37%
+30%
+34%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Medulla rose at about the same pace as in Polk County: 77% against 77%.
Rents in Medulla rose more slowly than in Polk County: 23% since 2015–2019, against 39%.
The typical household income in Medulla rose 37% over that time; home values changed +77% and rent +23%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Medulla and its comparisons
Measure
Medulla
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
2.61
2.68
2.51
2.53
Drive alone
77%
75%
70%
69%
Carpool
9%
9%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
14%
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
Much as in Polk County, a household in Medulla has 2.61 people on average.
To get to work, 77% of workers in Medulla drive alone; in Polk County, 75%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Medulla?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Medulla, worth $319,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 44% of the typical household income in Medulla, which is $70,802 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $110,705 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 Medulla. 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 $11,193 (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
$2,583
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$314,008
Total interest
$451,783
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $5,401 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,652 a month
Tight
$1,652 to $2,124 a month
Hard
more than $2,124 a month
Your payment · 44%
Compared with the typical household income in Medulla ($70,802 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,127
Property tax
$181
Home insurance
$133
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$141
You need at least $11,193 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 $2,583; principal and interest $2,127.
The city and its county
Medulla and Polk County
Medulla 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).
Medulla
Map of Polk County, Florida, with Medulla marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Medulla
Polk County
Other cities with a page
Medulla's own numbers
Typical home value
$319,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,287
Typical yearly household income
$70,802
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.68%
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 Medulla is worth $319,800: 20% above the county and 11% below Florida. With the typical household income in Medulla ($70,802 a year), a typical home costs 4.5 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.
Medulla4.5 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
Medulla 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
Medulla$319,800
Polk$266,500
Florida$359,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Medulla$1,287
Polk$1,363
Florida$1,669
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Medulla$70,802
Polk$65,978
Florida$74,568
United States$80,734
See the full table
Medulla next to Polk County and Florida
Measure
Medulla
Polk County
Florida
U.S.
Typical home value
$319,800 ▲20% above the county
$266,500
$359,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,287 ▼6% below the county
$1,363
$1,669
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$70,802 ▲7% above the county
$65,978
$74,568
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▼4 points below the county
70%
68%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,188 ▲13% above the county
$1,933
$2,730
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.68% ▼0.05 points below the county
0.73%
0.76%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
49% ▼5 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 Medulla
For a typical $319,800 home in Medulla, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Medulla's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,583a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$11,193
Cash to close
$20,787
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $141
Conventional, 5% down$2,524a month
Down payment
$15,990
Cash to close
$25,584
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $152
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,048a month
Down payment
$63,960
Cash to close
$73,554
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,343a month
Down payment
$47,970
Cash to close
$57,564
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Medulla
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,583
$11,193
$314,008
7.18%
FHA MIP · $141
$20,787
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,524
$15,990
$303,810
7.18%
PMI · $152
$25,584
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,048
$63,960
$255,840
7.18%
None
$73,554
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,343
$47,970
$271,830
8.18%
None
$57,564
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 Medulla is $1,287 a month: 6% below the county. In Medulla, 49% 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 Medulla
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Medulla is in ZIP code 33811.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,580: $28 less than the fair market rent for Polk County ($1,608).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Medulla, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
33811
$1,240
$1,310
$1,580
$2,170
$2,640
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
33811 $1,580$2,170
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Medulla 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)
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 Medulla or Polk County. The ones below are statewide in Florida: they work in Medulla 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 Medulla 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 Medulla 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 Medulla?
The typical home value in Medulla is $319,800, 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 Medulla?
Typical rent in Medulla is $1,287 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 Medulla?
Medulla 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 Medulla?
The typical homeowner in Medulla pays $2,188 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.68% of the home’s value; in Polk County, the rate is 0.73%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Medulla?
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.
