Reviewed movers in Lakeland
"I can't say enough good things about the amazing movers who helped me relocate from Massachusetts to Florida, with a stop in Connecticut along the way. From the moment they arrived, I felt like I was in good hands. They were friendly, respectful, ..."
"We have (had?) a contract with this company to do a small move for my mom from Oregon to Colorado. We paid the retainer fee. On the day before I was to fly out, I got the call that they would not be able to follow through. Supposedly they tried to..."
"I moved from a 4th floor apartment, to a home with a ridiculous driveway. Apparently, my entire apartment building was moving the same day and using the same elevator. Also, the home I was moving into was in a far away land. Not the easiest move, ..."
"Stole over $12k from me. not a moving company at all. owner not grom florida either. this company has nothing to do with moving. tried sueing them but they closed up shop and ran. cowards and crooks.."
"Crewmembers were courteous, and they didn't stand around too much. They covered up most of the furniture with blankets and used blankets on the bigger pieces. A little scuffed around on a couple of boxes, but the important stuff got there."
"Many thanks to Vaughn, Harley and Rick- What a fantastic team! I’ve moved so many times before, and this is my third cross country move, which can get really stressful if disorganized. These three gentlemen were kind, patient, direct and fast! I a..."
"Guardian moving is a broker that doesn't properly vent/manage the moving contractors they utilize. I DO NOT recommend using them. 3 weeks late in delivery to residence, DAMAGED AND LOST items, terrible body odor/hygiene of moving "professionals" p..."
"Great movers across the board. What we really liked is the app they gave us, that was literally for our specific move at booking. We read all the horror stories on line, about under quoting, poor service, things broken, missed dates and time lines..."
"They will give you a low quote and then pressure you to put money down to hold your spot with the option of cancelling. I Signed a contract with Guardian van lines to broker a move to transport my belongings with an option for a full refund if can..."
"Here is their scam or "business model." They are a broker, not a mover. They quote you a low price, and then they call you and say "please give us a very detailed inventory of everything." You do so. They give you a slightly higher quote and promi..."
"These movers deserve genuine appreciation for their exceptional service. They arrived on time and worked diligently to load my belongings, and their constant cheerful demeanor was a testament to their commitment to excellence."
"The driver and crew supervisor, Allen, was very professional, as were his crew. They wrapped and guarded all the furniture and anything that needed protecting, including a guitar. Everything was taken care of with great respect, nothing was damage..."
"The crew did not seem to have a clear plan once they arrived. They repeatedly stopped to decide what to do instead of keeping the work moving. There was no sense of urgency, and the hours quickly added up. For the amount we paid, I expected much b..."
"Quoting process was very professional, accurate, and complete. Multiple items including a flat-screen TV, picture frames, etc. packed by Alex Moving were broken during the move. No supervisor, lead person, or experienced loader was present durin..."
"Gustavo and rob we are finishing up and very pleased with our move. No issues whatsoever. Everything is in perfect condition. I couldn’t have done it without these two guys. They made the trip worthwhile and if I had to do it again, I would use th..."
"If you want your belongings and furniture broken use these movers. All my furniture was damaged. Broke my tv. Destroyed my armoire and wouldn’t come back to put my bed together when they forgot to bring screws. They took days to answer my texts an..."
"I had a move from Florida to wisconsin, spoke with a gentleman and decided to move forward using this company. I wish I hadn't. I will get to that in a minute. The day of my move December 18th 2023 was perfectly fine had some extra items whi h I h..."
"I would like to recount the unbelievably bad experience and bad service that I had with AME. It started out well with Kyle Lavelle, whom I had 3 – 4 conversations with. We talked about the move, and about insurance - if there was a need- he didn’t..."
"I thought I was dealing with Professional Moving and Storage when I hired them to move some furniture to Florida. But I soon found out that I was dealing with a company called Radius Moving. It was a horrible experience from that point on. Had to ..."
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.