Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lakeland Highlands, Florida
A $352,000 home here costs
$2,913per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $125,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,950. The real number is $963 higher every month, 49% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Polk County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lakeland Highlands against Polk County and Florida
| Measure | Lakeland Highlands | Polk County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $352,000 | $240,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,680 | $1,769 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.761% | 0.737% |
| Median gross rent | $1,817 | $1,272 |
| Population | 11,669 | 760,961 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lakeland Highlands sits in Polk County, which averages a high of 92.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 51.9°F in its coldest, with 46.12" of precipitation a year and 46% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,929 cooling and 421 heating degree days, which is what sets the $166 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Polk County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Polk County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lakeland Highlands averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Lakeland Highlands every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lakeland Highlands I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lakeland Highlands?
A $352,000 home in Lakeland Highlands, Florida costs approximately $2,913 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,950 principal and interest, $223 property tax, $213 homeowners insurance, $234 utilities and $293 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lakeland Highlands?
Lakeland Highlands has an effective property tax rate of 0.761%, based on a median home value of $352,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,680. That is higher than the Polk County average of 0.737%.
What is the average home price in Lakeland Highlands?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lakeland Highlands, Florida is $352,000, against $240,000 across Polk County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lakeland Highlands?
Median gross rent in Lakeland Highlands is $1,817 a month, against $2,913 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Lakeland Highlands?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lakeland Highlands, Florida at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $125,000 a year. That covers the full $2,913 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lakeland Highlands, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Florida.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.