Cost of Living in Davenport, FL (2026): Taxes and Rent

Monthly housing costs in Davenport

Cost	Monthly	Basis
Typical rent	$1,992	Zillow Observed Rent Index, August 2026
Mortgage, 10% down	$2,033	Principal and interest on $304,700, 30 years at 7.03%
Mortgage, 20% down	$1,807	Principal and interest on $270,900, 30 years at 7.03%

Typical home value $338,600 (Zillow, August 2026). Rate: Freddie Mac 30-year average, week of September 24, 2026. Taxes, insurance and HOA/CDD fees are extra and covered below.

How expensive is Davenport, Florida?

Davenport is one of the pricier places to live in Polk County and a little cheaper than neighboring Osceola County on home prices. Its typical home value of $338,572 is about $28,600 above Lakeland's and $45,500 above Haines City's, but about $17,400 below Kissimmee's. Rent runs the other way: at $1,992, it is above both Kissimmee ($1,914) and Lakeland ($1,722).

For everything besides housing, the best local yardstick is the MIT Living Wage Calculator for Polk County. It puts the pre-tax income a single adult with no children needs at $46,101 a year, or $22.16 an hour. Florida's minimum wage, as shown by MIT, is $14.00. The median household income in Davenport was $73,685 in the Census American Community Survey (2020 to 2024).

Housing costs in Davenport

Buying a home

At the typical $338,572, a 10% down payment is about $33,860 and the loan about $304,715. At the Freddie Mac rate of 7.03% (week of September 24, 2026) that is roughly $2,033 a month in principal and interest, or $1,807 with 20% down. By ZIP, Zillow's typical values were $333,572 in 33837, $352,143 in 33896 and $341,893 in 33897. See the Davenport housing market page for the trend.

Renting

Zillow's typical rent was $1,992, up 1.3% in a year. The Census survey put median gross rent at $1,914, a lagging figure that still sits well above Polk County's $1,363.

Property tax

This is where Davenport addresses differ most. Using 2025 rates, a homesteaded $338,572 home inside city limits owes about $5,708 a year in ad valorem tax: $1,659 school tax plus $4,049 on the non-school levies. The same home in unincorporated Polk owes about $3,858. Without homestead, the bills are about $6,554 in the city and $4,377 in the county. These estimates assume assessed value equals Zillow's value. The Polk County property tax guide has every rate.

Homeowners insurance

Davenport is inland, so there is no storm surge, but hurricane wind is priced in. Hurricane Milton in October 2024 brought about 4.07 inches of rain to a gauge in Davenport, according to the National Hurricane Center. Get quotes during your inspection period and use a wind mitigation report. Our Florida homeowners insurance guide explains the pricing.

Flood insurance

Check the parcel on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the Polk County flood zone lookup. According to the county, unincorporated Polk holds a Class 6 Community Rating System score, which earns a 20% discount on NFIP policies. NFIP cover has a 30-day wait, so don't leave it to closing week.

HOA and CDD fees

Most newer Davenport-area subdivisions have an HOA and many sit in a community development district, which adds an annual assessment to the tax bill. Highland Homes, for example, lists $100 a year in HOA dues at Geneva Landings plus a CDD. Ask for the parcel's last tax bill to see the CDD line. The Florida CDD fees guide explains how they work.

City of Davenport or unincorporated Polk: what changes

Only about 6.5% of ZIP 33837's land is inside the City of Davenport, and none of 33896 or 33897, according to the 2020 Census ZIP-to-place file. Here is what that means for your bills.

Item	Inside City of Davenport	Unincorporated Polk
2025 total millage	19.3579 (city share 7.2500)	12.9291 (includes county parks, library and stormwater levies)
Tax, homesteaded $338,572 home	About $5,708	About $3,858 plus county charges
Water and sewer	City of Davenport Utilities	Polk County Utilities or Haines City Utilities, depending on location
Garbage	Ask the seller how it is billed	County service $346.05 a year where provided
Permits	City of Davenport	Polk County

Why the city costs more in tax

City residents pay the city's 7.25 mills for city services on top of the 12.1079 county, school and water district base. Unincorporated owners pay 0.8212 mills for county parks, library and stormwater instead, and often a separate fire assessment ($393 a year for a single-family home where levied).

How to check an address

Open the parcel on the Polk County Property Appraiser site and read the taxing district. Then ask the seller for a recent water bill, which tells you the utility.

Everyday costs in Davenport

Electricity

Duke Energy is the usual electric provider around Davenport, Haines City and Winter Haven, unlike Lakeland with its city-owned utility. Confirm the provider for the exact address, and ask the seller for a year of bills, because summer air conditioning drives the total.

Water, sewer and trash

The City of Davenport Utilities Division runs water and sewer inside its service area. Haines City Utilities serves parts of Davenport and unincorporated Polk, and Polk County Utilities serves much of the northeast county. Rates differ by provider, so check which one bills the home.

Groceries and food

MIT budgets $4,300 a year for food for one adult in Polk County and $12,584 for two adults with two children.

Transportation

Most Davenport households drive. MIT puts transportation at $8,924 a year for one adult and $14,969 for a two-adult, two-child household. Citrus Connection runs Route 20X, the Haines City and Davenport express, at a $1.50 adult fare ($0.75 for seniors, students and riders with disabilities). The nearest commuter rail is SunRail's Poinciana station in Osceola County.

Healthcare

MIT's Polk County medical budget is $3,122 a year for one adult and $11,134 for two working adults with two children. Check which hospitals and urgent care centers are in your plan's network before you pick an address.

Child care and internet

We could not find a sourced Davenport child care rate, so ask two or three providers near your likely commute for current weekly fees. For internet, check coverage by exact address with each provider before you sign, and ask the HOA whether a bulk service contract is built into the dues.

Taxes in Davenport

Sales tax: 7%

Polk County's rate is 7%: the 6% state tax plus a 1% local surtax, made up of two half-cent levies.

No state income tax

Florida has no personal income tax, so your paycheck is taxed only federally.

Tourist development tax if you rent out

According to the Polk County Tax Collector, rentals of six months or less owe a 5% tourist development tax, and owners or managers must open an account to pay it. That matters in Davenport, where many homes are bought as vacation rentals.

Amendment 3 on the ballot

If voters approve it in November 2026, the non-school homestead exemption would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and the cap on non-homestead assessment increases would fall from 10% to 5%.

What salary do you need to live in Davenport, FL?

Household (MIT, Polk County)	Hourly living wage	Annual, before tax
1 adult, no children	$22.16	$46,101
2 adults (1 working), 2 children	$38.36	$79,798
2 adults (both working), 2 children	$24.45 each	$101,723

MIT's housing figure for Polk is $14,788 a year for one adult, about $1,232 a month, which is below what Davenport's typical rent costs. Adjust up.

To rent the typical home

Spending 30% of gross income on rent, $1,992 a month needs about $79,700 a year.

To buy the typical home

With 10% down, principal, interest and homesteaded tax come to about $2,509 a month inside city limits or about $2,354 in unincorporated Polk. Keeping that to 28% of income needs roughly $107,500 or $100,900 before insurance and HOA or CDD fees.

How that compares with local pay

In the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro, the median annual wage was $46,140 in May 2025 (BLS). That is less than the income needed to rent the typical Davenport home alone, which is why household income matters more than a single salary here.

Davenport vs nearby cities

City	Typical home value, Aug 2026	Typical rent
Davenport	$338,572	$1,992
Haines City	$293,072	$2,036
Winter Haven	$272,484	$1,698
Lakeland	$309,954	$1,722
Kissimmee	$355,971	$1,914
Orlando	$371,120	$1,896

Is Davenport cheaper than Kissimmee?

To buy, slightly: the typical home is about $17,400 less. To rent, no: Davenport's typical rent is $78 a month higher.

Cheaper options in Polk

Winter Haven is the lowest-priced of the group to buy and to rent. Haines City is cheaper to buy but not to rent.

Ways to lower your costs in Davenport

File for homestead by March 1

File with the Polk County Property Appraiser. The exemption removes up to $50,722 from the non-school value (2025) and caps later assessment rises at 3% or CPI. Qualifying low-income seniors can also claim up to $25,000 off the city levy in Davenport. See the homestead exemption guide.

Pay the tax bill in November

Polk bills go out in November with a 4% discount for early payment, stepping down to 1%.

Get a wind mitigation inspection

A report showing roof straps, shutters or impact glass can cut the wind part of your premium. Read the wind mitigation guide.

Compare the tax district before you buy

Two similar homes, one in city limits and one in the county, can differ by well over $1,000 a year in property tax.

Common questions

What is the cost of living in Davenport, Florida?+

Housing drives it. Zillow's typical rent was $1,992 a month in August 2026 and the typical home $338,572, about $2,033 a month in principal and interest with 10% down at 7.03%. MIT says a single adult in Polk County needs $46,101 a year before tax.

Is Davenport, FL expensive to live in?+

For Polk County, yes. Davenport's typical home value is higher than Lakeland, Haines City and Winter Haven. It is a little cheaper to buy than Kissimmee or Orlando, but its typical rent of $1,992 is higher than both.

How much are property taxes in Davenport, FL?+

Inside city limits the 2025 millage was 19.3579, about $5,708 a year on a homesteaded $338,572 home. Most Davenport addresses are in unincorporated Polk at 12.9291 mills, about $3,858 on the same home, plus fire, garbage or CDD charges where levied.

What is the sales tax in Davenport, Florida?+

7%: the 6% Florida rate plus Polk County's 1% local surtax. Short-term rentals of six months or less also owe Polk's 5% tourist development tax, according to the Polk County Tax Collector.

What salary do you need to live in Davenport, FL?+

About $79,700 to rent the typical home at 30% of income, and roughly $100,900 to $107,500 to buy it with 10% down at 7.03%, before insurance and HOA fees. MIT's bare living wage for one adult in Polk County is $46,101.

Who provides utilities in Davenport, FL?+

Duke Energy usually supplies electricity. Water and sewer depend on location: the City of Davenport inside its service area, and Haines City Utilities or Polk County Utilities elsewhere. Ask the seller for recent bills to confirm the providers for the address.

Is Davenport cheaper than Orlando?+

To buy, yes. Zillow's typical value in August 2026 was $338,572 in Davenport and $371,120 in Orlando. Typical rent was a little higher in Davenport, $1,992 against $1,896.

Cost of living in Davenport, Florida: 2026 guide to housing, taxes and bills

Plan your Davenport home search.