Population 385 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in River Ranch
Household size in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.21 | 2.79 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.15 | 2.93 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.80 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.16 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in River Ranch are small: just 2.20 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.1 | 40.6 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.7 | 41.4 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.5 | 41.7 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.2 | 40.5 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.8 | −0.1 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
River Ranch skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 50.1, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 12.7% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 13.2% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 13.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in River Ranch than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in River Ranch
Renters in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 27.9% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 30.4% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.6% | 31.1% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.6% | 29.5% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +17.9 pts | +1.6 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
River Ranch is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About three-quarters of owners (75.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.1% | 19.0% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.1% | 20.9% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 37.4% | 19.3% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.6% | 14.4% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +20.5 pts | −4.6 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in River Ranch: 49.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1987 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1992 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in River Ranch are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. Even so, homes here are older than in the wider Lakeland area, where the median home dates to 1992.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $688 | $916 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $478 | $958 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $747 | $1,094 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,068 | $1,499 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$380 | +$583 | +$724 | +$606 |
The median renter in River Ranch pays $1,068 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 28.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in River Ranch
Bachelor's degrees in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 18.2% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 18.8% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 20.2% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 23.4% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +5.2 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in River Ranch: 9.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.3% | 82.1% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.1% | 83.3% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.5% | 85.0% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 79.9% | 87.7% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in River Ranch never finished high school, well above the national share: only 79.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in River Ranch
| Period | River Ranch | Lakeland area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 11.9% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 5.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −4.5 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in River Ranch than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. The picture is much the same across the Lakeland area. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
River Ranch compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Ranch | 2.20 | 48.2 | 10.2% | 24.6% | 49.6% | 1985 | $1,068 | 9.8% | 79.9% | 4.6% |
| Indian Lake Estates | 2.40 | 54.7 | 8.4% | 12.3% | 40.2% | 1989 | $745 | 6.8% | 85.2% | 4.8% |
| Nalcrest | 2.13 | 55.2 | 3.9% | 24.8% | 32.5% | 1984 | $1,099 | 15.1% | 87.7% | 6.0% |
| Maxcy Quarters | 2.33 | 52.0 | 9.0% | 16.5% | 27.4% | 1996 | $974 | 17.3% | 96.0% | 0.5% |
| Lake Marian Highlands | 2.63 | 39.2 | 14.4% | 29.8% | 18.6% | 1989 | $1,313 | 28.8% | 82.2% | 3.5% |
| Babson Park | 2.33 | 47.4 | 10.2% | 13.8% | 24.2% | 1981 | $1,080 | 25.6% | 89.9% | 5.9% |
| Highland Lakes | 2.53 | 47.1 | 2.8% | 10.3% | 21.1% | 1989 | $2,079 | 35.2% | 90.7% | 5.9% |
| Frostproof | 2.51 | 50.7 | 11.4% | 20.5% | 27.8% | 1986 | $964 | 16.5% | 82.3% | 4.3% |
| Hillcrest Heights | 2.33 | 47.3 | 8.4% | 15.1% | 28.2% | 1987 | $1,308 | 27.3% | 93.5% | 4.5% |
| Highland Park | 2.64 | 40.6 | 15.7% | 14.1% | 17.4% | 1977 | $1,056 | 23.4% | 92.8% | 10.7% |
| Avon Park Lakes | 2.17 | 60.2 | 6.8% | 14.6% | 21.9% | 1989 | $855 | 7.6% | 85.8% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Woodrow, KY · Wheatley, KY · Lindell, VA · Wheeling, IN · White Pine, MT · Lidderdale, IA · White Point Beach, MD · Whitelaw, NY · Whiteside, TN · Wilmington, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up River Ranch. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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