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Fort Meade, FL
City in Polk County, Florida.
Population
5,225
Land area
8.2sq mi
People per sq mi
638
ZIP codes
0
Fort Meade and its ZIP codes
Fort Meade at a glance
- Fort Meade is 53% denser than Florida as a whole.
- The median household income is $36,657, 51% below the Florida median of $74,568.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $175,900 (51% below Florida) and median rent is $922 a month.
Local data for Fort Meade, FL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Fort Meade, FL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$36,657
Poverty rate
21.9%
Median home value
$175,900
Median rent
$922/mo
Homeownership
70.0%
Bachelor's or higher
9.4%
Median age
44.7
Average commute
40.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (1,289), German Americans (373), Puerto Ricans (263).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Polk County. PPP loans are for Fort Meade.
Unemployment rate
5.2%
Sep 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$57,763
264,981 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$46,274
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$5.3B
FY 2026, $7,284 per person
How people get to work
Fort Meade, FL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.5%
- Carpooled10.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.2%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home9.8%
Average one-way commute: 40.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Fort Meade, FL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
742
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
7,144
2.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 50°F
50.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Fort Meade, FL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
43.9%
U.S. 33.3% +10.6 pts
Diabetes
17.9%
U.S. 12.1% +5.8 pts
Smoking
19.8%
U.S. 12.8% +7.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
24.2%
U.S. 11.1% +13.1 pts
Cities near Fort Meade
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| HomelandCensus-designated place | 4.3 mi | 0.4 |
| AlturasCensus-designated place | 8.1 mi | 53.9 |
| BartowCity | 8.8 mi | 46.5 |
| Bowling GreenCity | 8.8 mi | 1.3 |
| Bradley JunctionCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 2.1 |
| Fort GreenCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 4 |
| Hillcrest HeightsTown | 13 mi | 0.2 |
| Crooked Lake ParkCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.7 |
| WahnetaCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 2.3 |
| WauchulaCity | 15 mi | 3.3 |
| Highland CityCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 7.9 |
| Eagle LakeCity | 15 mi | 2.6 |
| Fort Green SpringsCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 10.4 |
| Highland ParkVillage | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| FrostproofCity | 16 mi | 11.4 |
| Lakeland HighlandsCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 4.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Fort Meade, FL in?
- Fort Meade is in Polk County, Florida.
- What is the population of Fort Meade, FL?
- About 5,225 people live in Fort Meade, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Fort Meade?
- Nearby places include Homeland (4.3 mi), Alturas (8.1 mi), Bartow (8.8 mi), Bowling Green (8.8 mi), Bradley Junction (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023