746 movers in Lakeland
"Scam. Like the worst one I’ve ever experienced. Bait n switch. Incorrect filling out of items (even though I gave a description), false pick up times, stolen and damaged items, no one answers the calls, insurance is the same as the quote or .60 ce..."
"I received competitive quotes from this organization, and initially signed up with them. I paid the deposit, but within the contractual 72 hours, cancelled and notified them. No response. I emailed the sales rep, Dave, who was so friendly when he ..."
"About 6 months ago I had Keystone move my apartment across the States. The pickup crew was swift, gentle, and cordial, but by the time my shipment made it to me about a week later, countless items and furniture were crushed, scuffed, punctured, or..."
"Dwayne and Selvin are careful and trustworthy with my belongings! This is my second time with patriot movers! Excellent service right on time I would refer my best friends and family to use Patriot movers."
"This company is a scam! The company name registered with the DOT based on the DOT # I was provided is American Patriot Moving LLC; however, they operated under PowerPack Moving and Storage during my contact with them. The broker PowerPack Moving ..."
"It's taken me over a year to write this review, because I still have mixed emotions about the move. I dealt with Ted during the planning process. He was great! Very patient and answered numerous questions. It took me a long time to book with him..."
"EVERYONE THIS GUY IS Q DEAD BEAT DAD WHO CANT PAY HIS CHILD SUPPORT HE IS 11 THOUSAND PLUS IN DEBT ON HIS CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND HIS LICENSE IS SUSPENDED!! AVOID!!"
"Hopefully Executive Van Lines do not EVER open under another name!! They are ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE! LONG STORY SHORT....sent the Bbb Worst Rated company to get our stuff and move us from Indiana to Georgia. Took over 3 weeks and 100 phone calls to f..."
"I contracted my move with Gateway Movers out of Florida. THEY sub-contracted without telling me, to One Way Van Lines. The movers arrived 3 hours late, but the truck was packed properly,(by midnight), or so I thought. The movers told me AFTER the ..."
"Scam company. Their preferred movers are thieves. They pay to erase negative reviews. All my items arrived damaged. The actual movers hired guys of craigslist. So underhanded. They scammed me and I was forced to pay. In the end I should have given..."
"Beware of CATFISHING!!! They were absolutely amazing when I called and they quoted me over the phone (completely off). Their professional never came out to confirm the price. They changed my pickup date 3 times causing me to reschedule my flight...."
"The only great thing about this company was the movers who came to the house. The guys were absolutely great and worked very hard. Other than that, I would never recommend this company to anyone. All they care about is to get your money and sch..."
"Please do NOT use this company. Movers never called or showed up on day scheduled.They refuse to refund our deposit. Total scam. They do NOT CARE about their military customers."
"Move distance 225 miles. Estimate for small move with no furniture or large items $1823. Actual cost over $5000. Showed up late at night to load truck. Coerced by driver to pay extra cash directly to him to “save money.” Shady as hell. Boxes arriv..."
"I called for information about a quote and they kept pressuring for payment before even giving me the quote. After they realized, finally, I only wanted an estimated quote, they hung up on me. Definitely very unprofessional, rude, and a waste of t..."
"We were told by the salesman that we would receive our belongings in 3 to 5 days. It was actually 24 days before we received them. Also, a “quality control” person called and went again through our inventory one week before moving and claimed we h..."
"These guys are cheaters. they moved my stuff from Virginia to Florida and miss shelves from my bookcases I cannot use these bookcases. despite sign a contract to pay me for missing items so far, they have refused to do it do not use them if you ne..."
"What seems like a nice professional group is a front, this company is very eager to get your money and then tack on charges after charges and jack up the bill 30%! I would not recommend this company; they do not do the move they are brokers and co..."
"We contracted this moving company for our move from CA to Florida in mid 2021. Everything seemed fine until we gave them our $2,670 deposit. When we were getting closer to our move date we tried to contact them to set up the details, and they were..."
"I will always continue to inform people, Excalibur are not movers, they hire POS companies to move you, take a cut of the money. They hang up on you or won't answer phone when issues arise, and will. I call DOT and FBI on moving hostage situation...."
What to know when moving to Lakeland, FL
TL;DR: Lakeland at a Glance
- The Vibe:
- A community where 49.8% of residents are renters and the median household income is $49,210.
- The Major Draw:
- Affordable housing with a median gross rent of $1,100 and a median home value of $138,700.
- The Reality Check:
- A poverty rate of 22.8% indicates some economic challenges.
- Commute:
- Only 0.1% use public transit.
- Top Tip:
- Budget for $1,100/month in rent.
The 'Vibe' Check: Who Thrives Here?
Lakeland has a population of 33,460, with a notable 49.8% of residents renting their homes. The community is characterized by a relatively low education level, with only 15.8% holding a bachelor's degree or higher. With a poverty rate of 22.8%, the economic landscape presents some challenges for residents.
Probably not your spot if you are looking for a highly educated population or strong public transit options, as the transit use is just 0.1%.
Your Money: Housing & Cost Snapshot
- With a median gross rent of $1,100, you can find affordable housing options in the area.
- The median home value is $138,700, making it feasible for many to own.
- The poverty rate stands at 22.8%, which reflects some financial challenges in the community.
- Nearly half of the residents, 49.8%, are renters, indicating a balanced housing market.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Data Profiles.
Schools & Higher Ed
There are 9 higher education institutions in the surrounding area, providing various educational opportunities.
- Florida Polytechnic University
- Florida Southern College
- Southeastern University
- Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland
- Empire Beauty School-Lakeland
- Keiser University-Lakeland
- Traviss Technical College
- Maynard A. Traviss Technical College - Central Florida Aerospace Academy
- NUC University - Florida Technical College - Lakeland
Source: ArcGIS Postsecondary School Locations, NCES, College Scorecard.
Weather & Getting Outside
While specific climate data is unavailable, there are plenty of nearby outdoor spots to enjoy.
- Bonnet Springs Park - 4.9 stars (2,688 reviews)
- Munn Park - 4.5 stars (2,436 reviews)
- Barnett Family Park - 4.7 stars (2,076 reviews)
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park - 4.5 stars (3,129 reviews)
- Florida Children's Museum - 4.6 stars (1,253 reviews)
Source: Google Places API (New).
Jobs & the Local Economy
In Polk County, the unemployment rate is 5.5%, with 341,767 people employed out of a labor force of 361,713.
- Unemployment rate: 5.5% as of December 2025
- Employed: 341,767
- Labor force: 361,713
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.