Bartow ( BAR-toh) is a city and the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow, the first brigade commander of the Confederate Army to die in combat during the American Civil War. It is part of the Lakeland−Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 787,404, as of July 1, 2022. According to the 2020 Census, the city had a population of 19,309. Located near the source of the Peace River, Bartow is approximately 39 miles (63 km) east of Tampa, Florida and 50 miles (80 km) southwest of the Greater Orlando area. The city is near the center of "Lightning Alley" and ha…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Bartow ranks

All →

#7Rent easiest to afford in FL #22Most new homes in FL #53Most conserved land in FL All FL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code33830, 33831

Area code863

Living in Bartow

Housing in Bartow

$279K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Bartow home is worth about $279,000, about the same as a year ago, 26% below the Florida typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market122

Sale-to-list98.4%

Sold in May33

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Bartow

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Bartow reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 76% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Bartow 3.5

Florida 2.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Bartow 10.1

Florida 10.8

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Bartow

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 24% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Florida

1better than FL·11worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 5▼ 6 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind 3▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.2%Fewer adults who have had cancerFL 9.1% · better 16.4%More older adults who have lost all their teethFL 12.7% · worse

Care nearby

Bartow Regional Medical CenterBartow · 1.1 mi · ER

Cfhc Bartow PediatricsBartow · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Bartow · CMS · HRSAHealth in Bartow →

Natural hazards in Bartow

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 67% of U.S. communities.

🌀 Hurricanes🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind

5Does Bartow flood?paid flood claims since 1995 10Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Bartow

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Bartow →

Schools in Bartow

All Bartow schools →

School Grade D

The public schools Bartow’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 86% of Florida’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Bartow’s schools compare in FL →

DistrictPOLKSchools17

Spessard L Holland Elementary B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 843 students Floral Avenue Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 585 students Bartow Elementary Academy A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 524 students James E. Stephens Academy DElementary · Grades PK–5 · 336 students First Methodist School Inc.Elementary · Grades PK–8 · 166 students Bartow Middle School CMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 881 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within FL. Ratings are from neighbors.