As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

New: Community Explorer. Discover Your Perfect Community Quickly Based on Lifestyle, Amenities, and Unit Type.

Try It NOW

home -

reviews -

florida -

bartow

Bartow, Florida

What It Is Like to Retire in Bartow

Bartow is an up and coming community of 17,000 about 40 miles east of Tampa in central Florida. The town is formerly rural but now attracting all kinds of people, including retirees and active adults. Its live oak trees and many preserved historical buildings give it a southern charm that is very refreshing. The town is laid out in a north-south grid - at the center is the historic downtown of Bartow which includes the old courthouse, the new courthouse, and the County Administration building as well as other government offices.Photo of John Swearingen House courtesy of and per license of Wikipedia and Indietop20;photo of Bartow City Hall courtesy of Wikipedia; photo of Bartow City Hall courtesy of Wikipedia and Ebyabe; all Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/

Where to Retire in Bartow and Home Prices

There are active adult communities in the area (see link at top left).
Zillow reports the median home value to be $175,085 in early 2021.

What Is Special about Bartow

Live oak trees, a number historical buildings, small town charm, lower prices. The Swearingen House is just one building on the National Register of Historic Places.

What Is Not Special about Bartow

A lot of people move to Florida to be near the coast, and Bartow is not right on it.

Who Will Like Retirement in Bartow

People looking for a lower cost retirement in a low key Florida town might like Bartow.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Phosphate mining, citrus, and retirees are important to the Bartow economy.

Climate and Physical Environment

Bartown is about 55 miles east of Tampa and 15 west of Lake Wales. The average July high temperature is 92 and the average January low is 51. The wettest month is July (8.5")