Polk County, Florida: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Polk County is worth $240,000, property taxes on it run about $1,769 a year (0.74%), the FHA loan limit is $541,287, and closing on it means about $1,680 in transfer tax plus $1,300 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $240,000 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $1,769 a year, 0.74% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $541,287 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $1,680 | Florida transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $1,275 owner's + $25 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $156 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $3,136 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $83,900; low-income limit $69,850 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Polk County?
The median owner-occupied home in Polk County is valued at $240,000, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Polk County?
The median Polk County homeowner pays $1,769 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.74% of the median home value ($2,111 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Polk County?
$541,287 for a one-unit home in 2026 (the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Polk County?
On the $240,000 median home: transfer tax $1,680, title insurance $1,300 for both policies, recording fees about $156, about $3,136 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Polk County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Polk County (Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA) is $83,900. A family of four counts as low income below $69,850 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby Florida counties
- Palm Beach County $645,000
- Pasco County $265,800
- Pinellas County $319,000
- Putnam County $147,300
- Santa Rosa County $302,100
- Sarasota County $373,100
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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