In Winter Haven, a typical home is worth $269,800 and typical rent is $1,246 a month. Compared with all of Polk County, typical household income is 10% lower, typical rent is 9% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $237,667 to $271,922.
Typical rent
$1,686a month
▲ 2.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,433 to $1,686.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Winter Haven 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 Inwood, the typical home value is $142,300: 47% less than in Winter Haven ($269,800).
2
64% of households in Winter Haven own their home, against 70% in Polk County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Winter Haven
What homes there are in Winter Haven, 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
Winter Haven
Polk County
Florida
United States
Kind of home: Winter Haven and its comparisons
Measure
Winter Haven
Polk County
Florida
United States
Detached house
66%
62%
55%
61%
Attached house
4%
3%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
8%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
16%
9%
25%
19%
Mobile home
6%
20%
8%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
In Winter Haven, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Polk County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Winter Haven
Polk County
Florida
United States
Year built: Winter Haven and its comparisons
Measure
Winter Haven
Polk County
Florida
United States
Before 1960
12%
10%
10%
26%
1960–1979
22%
20%
24%
24%
1980–1999
23%
31%
34%
25%
2000–2009
20%
21%
18%
14%
2010 or later
24%
18%
14%
11%
The typical year built in Winter Haven is 1990, about the same as in Polk County (1992).
In Winter Haven, 11% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 61% in Polk County.
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 $100K13%
$100K–$200K20%
$200K–$300K26%
$300K–$500K34%
$500K–$750K5%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Winter Haven and its comparisons
Measure
Winter Haven
Under $100K
13%
$100K–$200K
20%
$200K–$300K
26%
$300K–$500K
34%
$500K–$750K
5%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
About 94% of owner-occupied homes in Winter Haven are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Polk County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5008%
$500–$99921%
$1,000–$1,49935%
$1,500–$1,99920%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,608
$2,000–$2,4999%
$2,500–$2,9997%
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Winter Haven and its comparisons
Measure
Winter Haven
Under $500
8%
$500–$999
21%
$1,000–$1,499
35%
$1,500–$1,999
20%
$2,000–$2,499
9%
$2,500–$2,999
7%
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Polk County is $1,608; about 68% of rents in Winter Haven are below it.
With a mortgage
$1,673 a month
Polk County: $1,716 a month
Without a mortgage
$622 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 Winter Haven is $1,673 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
Winter Haven+75%
Polk County+77%
Florida+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Winter Haven+30%
Polk County+39%
Florida+42%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Winter Haven+28%
Polk County+30%
Florida+34%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Winter Haven and its comparisons
Measure
Winter Haven
Polk County
Florida
United States
Typical home value
+75%
+77%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+30%
+39%
+42%
+33%
Typical household income
+28%
+30%
+34%
+29%
The typical home value in Winter Haven rose 75% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Polk County (77%).
Rents in Winter Haven rose more slowly than in Polk County: 30% since 2015–2019, against 39%.
To compare: typical income in Winter Haven rose 28%; the home, +75%; the rent, +30%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Winter Haven and its comparisons
Measure
Winter Haven
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
3.3%
3.4%
3.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.67
2.68
2.51
2.53
Drive alone
80%
75%
70%
69%
Carpool
7%
9%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
2%
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
10%
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
More than one person per room: that is how 3.3% of households in Winter Haven live, near the figure in Polk County (3.4%).
A household in Winter Haven has 2.67 people on average, about the same as in Polk County (2.68).
The car rules in Winter Haven: 80% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Winter Haven?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Winter Haven, worth $269,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 45% of the typical household income in Winter Haven, which is $59,648 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $94,842 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 Winter Haven. 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 $9,443 (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
$2,213
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$264,913
Total interest
$381,148
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,556 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,392 a month
Tight
$1,392 to $1,789 a month
Hard
more than $1,789 a month
Your payment · 45%
Compared with the typical household income in Winter Haven ($59,648 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,795
Property tax
$187
Home insurance
$112
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$119
You need at least $9,443 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 $2,213; principal and interest $1,795.
The city and its county
Winter Haven and Polk County
Winter Haven 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).
Winter Haven
Map of Polk County, Florida, with Winter Haven marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Winter Haven
Polk County
Other cities with a page
Winter Haven's own numbers
Typical home value
$269,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,246
Typical yearly household income
$59,648
Households that own their home
64%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%
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 Winter Haven is worth $269,800: about the same as the county and 25% below Florida. With the typical household income in Winter Haven ($59,648 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.
Winter Haven4.5 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
Winter Haven 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
Winter Haven$269,800
Polk$266,500
Florida$359,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Winter Haven$1,246
Polk$1,363
Florida$1,669
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Winter Haven$59,648
Polk$65,978
Florida$74,568
United States$80,734
See the full table
Winter Haven next to Polk County and Florida
Measure
Winter Haven
Polk County
Florida
U.S.
Typical home value
$269,800
$266,500
$359,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,246 ▼9% below the county
$1,363
$1,669
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$59,648 ▼10% below the county
$65,978
$74,568
$80,734
Households that own their home
64% ▼7 points below the county
70%
68%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,247 ▲16% above the county
$1,933
$2,730
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.83% ▲0.1 points above the county
0.73%
0.76%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
62% ▲8 points above 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 Winter Haven
For a typical $269,800 home in Winter Haven, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Winter Haven's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,213a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,443
Cash to close
$17,537
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $119
Conventional, 5% down$2,164a month
Down payment
$13,490
Cash to close
$21,584
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $128
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,761a month
Down payment
$53,960
Cash to close
$62,054
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,011a month
Down payment
$40,470
Cash to close
$48,564
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Winter Haven
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,213
$9,443
$264,913
7.18%
FHA MIP · $119
$17,537
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,164
$13,490
$256,310
7.18%
PMI · $128
$21,584
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,761
$53,960
$215,840
7.18%
None
$62,054
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,011
$40,470
$229,330
8.18%
None
$48,564
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 Winter Haven is $1,246 a month: 9% below the county. In Winter Haven, 62% 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 Winter Haven
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Winter Haven has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,430 in 33881 to $1,860 in 33884.
1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Polk County ($1,608).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Winter Haven, fiscal year 2027.
33881
$1,120
$1,190
$1,430
$1,970
$2,390
33884
$1,460
$1,550
$1,860
$2,560
$3,110
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
33881 $1,430$1,970
33884 $1,860$2,560
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Winter Haven 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 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Winter Haven. These are the largest.
Winter Haven Manor140 Avenue A SW, Winter Haven 33880126 homes, 125 low-income · For older adults(863) 293-5630
Abbey Lane Apartments100 Evergreen Pl SW, Winter Haven 33880125 homes, 124 low-income · For families(863) 293-1559
Name Unknown2538 6th St NE, Winter Haven 33881122 homes, 121 low-income · Run by Winter Haven Housing Authority · Average payment: $470 a month · Average wait: 5 months · Homes at several sites(863) 294-7369
Episcopal-Catholic Apartments500 Avenue L NW, Winter Haven 33881199 homes, 97 low-income · For older adults
Palm Place Apartments2401 2nd St NW, Winter Haven 3388190 low-income homes · For families(863) 294-7570
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 Winter Haven or Polk County. The ones below are statewide in Florida: they work in Winter Haven 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.
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Winter Haven, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
HN
Housing and Neighborhood Development Services of Central Florida, Inc.
No legal help resource on our list is for Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven?
The typical home value in Winter Haven is $269,800, 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 Winter Haven?
Typical rent in Winter Haven is $1,246 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 Winter Haven?
Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven?
The typical homeowner in Winter Haven pays $2,247 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Polk County, the rate is 0.73%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Winter Haven?
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.
