Reviewed movers in Lakeland
"From start to end, they were polite and efficient. On a busy weekend, High Priority Movers squeezed us in and moved our large Two-bedroom apartment across the bay in three-hours. Their cost was also affordable! This is an on-time, careful, and pro..."
"All they are is a broker who doesn't give a crap once they have the money. Do your self a favor and do some research on this company before you choose them."
"DO NOT BOOK MOVING MANIA – ZERO STARS My mother used Moving Mania for an out-of-state move in May 2024. The result was a disaster: 20 large pieces of furniture arrived completely broken, many beyond repair. Legs snapped off antique chairs, chunks..."
"Listed all the items in writing and got a quote of $1700. Day of move price tripled for same items. Filed complaint with BBB. Don’t trust these scammers. They added unnecessary stress to my move and cost me way more than I should of had to pay as ..."
"I should have read reviews!! Broken rocker, missing items. Charged me another $700 CASH ONLY when started loading. Most of my newly purchased boxes came back damaged. Definitely would not recommend that you use them. Person they told me was my con..."
"I am shocked by all the great reviews. This was hands down the worst experience of my life and was filled with many objective statements that ended up being false. The move took significantly longer than originally anticipated. Once the payment wa..."
"BEWARE of apparent Fraud and Predatory Practices by True Blue Moving Group, LLC of Greenacres, Florida, hereafter called TBMG. We were originally quoted a total of $4621.60 for the move what was the equivalent of a Studio Apartment (actually a On..."
"New Leaf provided a binding moving estimate with the option for a full refund of the down payment if cancelled more than five days prior to the scheduled move. We were to provide an updated inventory to New Leaf within the five day cancellation pe..."
"If I could rate 0 I would, estimate was 3000, final bill was 9000, used excessive packing $500 charge, ruined a 4500 refridge, claimed insurance, lost my number. Once they have your stuff, they hold it hostage for more money. They schedule and gav..."
"DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY TO BOOK ANY MOVING JOBS. THEY WILL DO NOTHING BUT LIE TO YOU AND THEN MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL WHEN THE MOVE GOES BADLY. AND IT WILL GO BADLY. The company they "hired" for me was the absolute worst. They showed up 8 ho..."
"I should of known better like the old saying "too good to be true". They quoted me a price $2K cheaper than the cheapest price I had. My house deal fail through and I emailed the billing department and text this guy Vinny the very next day for my ..."
"American Standard Moving & Storage are crooks. They stole items from me & denied it. Lied to me on the phone when I asked if there were subcontractors (they said no). Kept my items for over a week after I got to my new home. Charged me an extra $1..."
"I hired Vanguard moving Jan of 2024 and told them what exactly included in the move the man I dealt with was Sam and he had quoted me $4450 with them packing everything and the week before they called and did their final review of Items and the pr..."
"This company scammed my mother and I by vastly overcharging us what was quoted. They also lost family heirlooms and damaged several items. AVOID!!!"
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.