Is Polk County the safest county in all of Florida?
With over 100,000 new people arriving in each of the last three years and a crime rate of one per 100 residents which is less than half the state’s rate, unincorporated Polk County is likely the safest county in Florida.
Unincorporated Polk County consists of a wide range of small census designated places, towns and villages such as Lakeland Highlands with a population of around 12,000 and Medulla with a population of just around 10,000.
Some attribute Polk County’s low crime rate to the Sheriff of Polk County, Grady Judd. Sheriff Judd, known as an old school lawman and for his sometimes controversial remarks, seems to have a good handle on crime fighting in his county. He’s drawn criticism and mockery at times for his tough – talking announcements with refference to such things as such as stopping the toll – jumpers in Polk County. His philosophy for fighting crime was expressed in one of his quotes “ Well guess what happened when they stopped the toll – jumpers? “ Murders went down, robberies went down, everything went down because the morons committing the minor crimes were also the ones committing the major crimes. “ Shoplifting has seen a significant rise all over North America whether in the US or Canada. When asked about the decrease in shoplifting in Polk County, the sheriff was quoted as saying “ We don’t allow people to shoplift and get away with it, we lock them up.
So if you get caught shoplifting in Polk County, you’re going to walk out of the store in handcuffs and you’re going to jail. Every time. “
Whatever the case may be, crime in Polk County and especially unincorporated Polk County is the envy of many surrounding areas.
Some of the larger and more well known areas in Polk County are cities such as Lakeland and Winter Haven. Winter Haven in particular has become a hot spot for snowbirds and retirees with a high number of 55+ communities. Winter Haven, located between the two major cities of Orlando and Tampa has one of the more affordable price points in Florida. As per April 2024, Zillow reports reveal a median home price of just $280,000, which is well below Florida’s average sale price.
As a foreign investor, certain criteria such as the crime rate in an area can be of significance when deciding on where to purchase. This can be especially true if you are only occupying the property on a part time basis and the security of the property in your absence could be a priority.
There are public websites that provide crime statistics in the U.S such as the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. Whether purchasing property at home or in another country, always do your due diligence.
