By Manuella Irwin
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
6 min read
Reviewed by Martin Pаnауоtоv
Editor
Martin is founder of MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
747 movers in Bartow
"Brian called me and over the phone requested to pay deposit without reviewing the contract. It is scam. They did not know how big the move is, how much furniture do I have, just they immediately wanted to get money."
"Be aware, the above moving service company is absolutely a scammer!!! I scheduled moving service on June 15th, 2025, from San Jose to Seattle. They quoted my moving cost will be around $2,300, which sounds like a reasonable price. And they asked ..."
"Daniel and the teams in both Los Angeles and Auckland were fast, efficient, and professional in every aspect of our move. They definitely exceeded expectations in all aspects including their flexibility around our departure date. Our shipment arri..."
"Essentially everything the previous reviewer(MichaelVanWelden) wrote was identical to our experience, except we were also extorted out of an additional $7K dollars and 90% of our furniture was severely damaged. They are criminals. We are following..."
"Delay and delay. Then 30% more than the initial quote. Once they have my stuff, they are no longer friendly if they answer the phone at all. Never trust what they say. Whatch what they do.They refer some fine print in the contract and justifies th..."
"This was, by far, the most unprofessional moving company I've ever dealt with. Ironically, my girlfriend used this same company a year ago, and they did an excellent job. This time, it was the complete opposite. First, they canceled the original ..."
"My experience with Black Tie Moving Services LLC movers was the worst of any business I've ever dealt with; they damaged some of my belongings, misplaced others, and wasted both my time and money. Under no circumstances should you collaborate with..."
"Do not use this company. They will be nice ONLY until they get your deposit. I tried to cancel with them because my rep made me nervous but they refuse to give me my money back. I received at least ten calls a day from different numbers and text m..."
"Well, now that it appears that it is all over, I want to warn everyone in Florida. Do NOT, under ANY circumstances, hire Fresh Start Movers. I will tell you what happened to me. I hired them to move me from Sebring to Fort Myers. Most of you know ..."
"I used this company to move and almost every single item was completely damaged beyond repair. It was almost as if they were angry and took it out on my furnishings. Nothing in the contract was adhered to and they had no insurance as promised. Go ..."
"CRIMINALS!! DO NOT USE!! THEY WILL STEAL EVERYTHING YOU OWN!!! They made us sign a binding contract and wouldn't allow us to have a copy. The online contract was a link and they disabled it. The movers weren't allowed to give us a copy of the ite..."
"Given that the within Brazil moves were great, I hired them to move back to Saint Louis, MO. 1. They packed carefully.2. They were flexible. 3. They kept changing your contact person and often took weird days off the office 4. Their bargaining pow..."
"Buckle up for a review of a life time. Let's start at the beginning. This company contacted me to be my moving supplier and after some talking with the representative who called me I decided to go with this company. He informed me that they would ..."
What to know when moving to Bartow, FL
TL;DR: Bartow at a Glance
- The Vibe:
- A community where 31.5% of residents are renters and the median household income is $62,636.
- The Major Draw:
- Median gross rent is $1,017, making it relatively affordable for the area.
- The Reality Check:
- 18.3% of residents live in poverty, which is a significant consideration.
- Commute:
- Only 0.1% of residents use public transit.
- Top Tip:
- Budget for a median home value of $207,900 if you're considering buying.
The 'Vibe' Check: Who Thrives Here?
Bartow is characterized by a population of around 32,738, with 18.4% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher. The area has a relatively low renter percentage at 31.5%, indicating a community that leans towards homeownership. However, the poverty rate is 18.3%, which could affect overall economic stability.
Probably not your spot if you are looking for high public transit options, as only 0.1% of residents commute via this method, suggesting a strong reliance on personal vehicles.
Your Money: Housing & Cost Snapshot
- Median gross rent is $1,017, making it accessible compared to many other areas.
- The median owner-occupied home value is $207,900, which is reasonable for the region.
- 18.4% of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher, contributing to the community's character.
- The poverty rate stands at 18.3%, indicating some financial challenges within the community.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Data Profiles.
Schools & Higher Ed
There are 7 postsecondary institutions available in the nearby area, offering various educational opportunities.
- Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland
- Florida Southern College
- NUC University - Florida Technical College - Lakeland
- Polk State College
- Southeastern University
- Traviss Technical College
- UR Beauty & Barber Academy-At True Family Barber Academy
Source: ArcGIS Postsecondary School Locations, NCES, College Scorecard.
Weather & Getting Outside
While specific climate data is unavailable, there are several parks and outdoor spaces that residents can enjoy nearby.
- Bonnet Springs Park - 4.9 stars (2,687 reviews)
- Mary Holland Park - 4.5 stars (1,024 reviews)
- Holloway Park - 4.5 stars (599 reviews)
- Loyce E. Harpe Park - 4.5 stars (507 reviews)
- Rotary Park - 4.3 stars (432 reviews)
Source: Google Places API.
Jobs & the Local Economy
In Polk County, the unemployment rate is 5.5% as of December 2025, with a labor force of 361,713.
- Unemployment rate: 5.5% (December 2025)
- Employed: 341,767
- Labor force: 361,713
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.