Polk County Ranks #1 & #2 Snowbird Cities in America

Why Winter Haven Ranked #1

Winter Haven doesn't have an ocean. It has the Chain of Lakes.

StorageCafe pointed to the lakes as the city's centerpiece, with boating, fishing and waterfront dining built into everyday life. The city also has eight golf courses.

Housing was a big factor. Almost half of Winter Haven's rentals are available for seasonal visitors, which makes it easy for snowbirds to find a place for the winter.

LEGOLAND Florida gives visiting grandkids something to do. Orlando and Tampa are both close enough for a day trip.

Even storage is cheaper here. A self storage unit in Winter Haven averages about $110 a month, compared to a national average of $130.

StorageCafe's take: Winter Haven gives snowbirds warm Florida winters without the price tag or crowds of a beach town.

 Fun Fact: Winter Haven Was Named for Snowbirds

This ranking is a long time coming.

Winter Haven started out as a small community called Harris Corners. In 1885, P.D. Eycleshimer renamed it Winter Haven.

The name wasn't about the lakes. It was a marketing move to sell the town as a warm winter destination for northerners.

141 years later, a national ranking says it worked.

Lakeland Rank #2

Lakeland sits almost exactly halfway between Tampa and Orlando. StorageCafe called that its biggest advantage: big-city access without big-city costs or traffic.

Like Winter Haven, Lakeland makes up for the lack of beaches with water. The city has 38 lakes inside its limits, including Lake Hollingsworth and Lake Morton, home of the famous swans.

About a third of Lakeland's rentals are set aside for seasonal use. According to short-term rental data platform Rabbu, a vacation property in Lakeland brings in close to $32,000 a year.

The report also highlighted downtown, a dozen nearby golf courses and Florida Southern College, home to the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

Lake Wales Rank #10

Lake Wales closed out the top 10 as the pick for snowbirds who want a quieter winter.

The ranking pointed to its rolling hills, lakes and four golf courses. Its biggest draw is Bok Tower Gardens, the 250-acre garden and nature preserve built around the Singing Tower.

It's also one of the more affordable cities in the top 10. Rent averages around $1,100 a month, and groceries for a family of four run just over $800 a month.

About 43% of the area's vacant homes are used by seasonal visitors.

Polk Wasn't Done

Three more Polk cities made the national top 35.

• Haines City: #14
• Auburndale: #21
• Davenport: #31

That puts six Polk County cities in the top 35 out of 472.

Auburndale also had one of the lowest storage costs in the entire top 100, averaging $89 a month. Only Freeport, Texas came in cheaper.

Tampa landed at #15. Orlando came in at #52.

Lake Wales #10. Haines City, at #14, outranked every Orlando-area city on the list.

It's the same story we keep seeing. Polk gives you access to both metros without paying metro prices.

How the Ranking Works

StorageCafe looked at what matters when you're staying somewhere for months, not a week.

The ranking scored cities on October through March temperatures, air quality, beach access, parks, golf courses, seasonal housing availability, rent and home prices, grocery costs, retail, walkability, internet speeds, safety, healthcare access and self storage costs.

Polk lost points on beach access. It still took the top two spots.

Get Ready for the Snowbirds

Snowbird season is just getting started.

Expect more out-of-state plates around the Chain of Lakes, longer tee times and busier Sunday brunches through March.

Winter Haven has been waiting for them since 1885.