Moving to Winter Haven, Florida

A practical city guide for deciding whether Winter Haven fits your life, planning the move, and settling in with fewer surprises.

Moving to Winter Haven, Florida? Start with the local context that changes a relocation decision in Polk County. With roughly 49,219 residents, Winter Haven sits in Central West Florida. Locally it's known as nicknamed 'The Chain of Lakes City,' known for its 50 interconnected lakes, water-skiing heritage, and Legoland Florida theme park. For relocators it's attractive to relocators wanting lake-access living midway between Tampa and Orlando at a lower cost than either metro. Climate: humid subtropical inland — hottest summers in the state, daily afternoon thunderstorms, mild winters with occasional 30°F nights. Before choosing a home, pay attention to lightning capital of the US, sinkholes in the Brooksville Ridge, both Atlantic and Gulf hurricane reach. Local areas to put on your research list include Interlaken Historic District, Downtown Winter Haven Historic District, Chain of Lakes. Use the guides, comparison tools, apartment research, and hurricane profile below before you narrow the move to an address.