Polk County vs Seminole County: The Numbers, Side by Side
Deciding between Polk County and Seminole County? Skip the anecdotes — here is every measurable difference between the two counties: home values and list prices, property taxes at each side’s verified millage, insurance, rents, growth, investor yield and migration — each figure from the named source that produced it.
The head-to-head table
| Metric | Polk County | Seminole County |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value (Zillow) | $298,826 | $404,888 |
| Median list price | $335,000 | $400,000 |
| 1-yr value change | -3.0% | -2.0% |
| 5-yr value change | 4.3% | 4.6% |
| Median days on market | 77 days | 57 days |
| Active listings | 4,648 | 1,533 |
| Listings with a price cut | 21.1% | 26.9% |
| Typical millage (property tax) | 16.19 mills | 15.18 mills |
| Avg Citizens insurance | $1,931/yr | $1,572/yr |
| Typical rent (ZORI) | $1,848/mo | $1,911/mo |
| Modeled monthly cost to own | $1,822/mo | $2,391/mo |
| Gross cap rate | 7.4% | 5.7% |
| Net migration (people/yr) | +18556 | -99 |
| Residential permits (2025) | 8,236 | 1,997 |
Bold marks the side a cost-or-yield metric favors. Values from Zillow research series, Realtor.com Economic Research, verified county millage, Citizens Property Insurance filings, Zillow Observed Rent Index, IRS SOI migration and Census permits; all change over time.
What the table actually says
On price, Polk County is the cheaper market — typical values run about $106,062 lower than Seminole County.
On carrying costs, Seminole County has the lower typical millage and Seminole County the lower average Citizens premium; the own-versus-rent gap is narrower in Polk County.
On momentum, Seminole County shows the stronger 1-year value change (-2.0% vs -3.0%); five-year growth favors Seminole County.
For rental investors, Polk County carries the higher gross cap rate (7.4% vs 5.7%).
On demand, IRS migration data shows Polk County gaining more net residents per year (18,556 vs -99).
The costs people forget to compare
Two Florida specifics matter more than the sticker gap. First, property tax RESETS to your purchase price when you buy — compare the two markets at YOUR price with the property tax calculator, not at the sellers’ current bills. Second, insurance varies more by home age, construction and distance-to-coast than by county average — quote the specific home. The buyer closing costs calculator builds both into a real cash-to-close for either market.
Dig deeper on Polk County
Run the numbers in Polk County
- Find the best agent in Polk County
- Get a cash offer in Polk County
- Polk County housing scorecard
- What would selling net you
- Buyer closing costs calculator
Dig deeper on Seminole County
Run the numbers in Seminole County
- Find the best agent in Seminole County
- Get a cash offer in Seminole County
- Seminole County housing scorecard
- What would selling net you
- Buyer closing costs calculator
Common questions
Is Polk County or Seminole County cheaper to buy a home?
Which has lower property taxes, Polk County or Seminole County?
Which is better for rental investors?
A factual comparison of market data only, from the sources named above as of 2026-06-16; figures change over time and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. It describes markets, not people, and is not advice about where anyone should live. Equal Housing Opportunity.