The honest money picture for living in Davenport 33837 — no state income tax, what property taxes actually look like, and the homestead exemption that saves homeowners real money (with a quick estimator below).
Estimates & general figures — verify your specifics with the Polk County Property Appraiser & Tax Collector
The headline reason a lot of people move to Florida — and to Davenport specifically — is taxes. There's no state income tax, full stop. That's money that stays in your pocket every paycheck compared to most other states. What you do pay is property tax and sales tax, and the property side is where a little knowledge saves you the most — so let's break it down.
Your annual property tax is roughly your home's assessed value (minus exemptions) multiplied by the combined millage rate for your exact location. In Polk County that combined rate stacks several pieces — county, school district, water management, and your city — and for Davenport-area homes the median effective rate works out to about 1.19% of value, with a typical bill near $2,200.
Two Davenport-specific notes for Charles Cove buyers: first, communities like ours also carry a CDD assessment on the tax bill (a separate, non-ad-valorem line that funds the community's infrastructure) — our HOA & CDD guide explains it. Second, the single biggest lever you control on the tax side is the homestead exemption — which is exactly what the tool below is for.
If a Davenport home is your permanent residence, the Florida homestead exemption lowers its taxable value — and most homeowners never realize how much they're leaving on the table. Get a rough estimate in seconds.
Use your assessed value if you know it, or your market/purchase price as a stand-in.
To claim it you must own and occupy the home as your permanent residence as of January 1, and file with the Polk County Property Appraiser by March 1. It's free to file. Our new resident guide has it on the move-in checklist.
Beyond taxes, here's the rough shape of monthly life in the area.
The biggest line item, and the area's fast growth has pushed prices up. Newer construction (like much of Charles Cove) commands a premium, but you're buying into resort-style amenities and a quick attractions-corridor location.
City of Davenport water/sewer, Duke Energy electricity (Florida summers mean real A/C bills), and trash via Republic Services. Setup steps are in the new resident guide.
Master-planned communities here typically carry both an HOA fee and a CDD assessment. Know what each covers before you buy — our HOA & CDD guide breaks it down.
Florida homeowners insurance (including wind/hurricane coverage) is a real budget line — get quotes early, and document your home for claims. See Storm Ready.
Most of life here is car-based along US-27 and I-4. Toll roads (SR-417, Florida's Turnpike) speed up Orlando trips for a fee — a SunPass pays for itself fast if you commute.
No state income tax, and the homestead exemption plus the 3% Save Our Homes cap meaningfully soften property taxes over time for permanent residents.
No — Florida has no state income tax at any income level, one of the biggest financial reasons people relocate here.
Polk County's median effective rate is about 1.19% of value, median bill near $2,200. Your bill depends on assessed value, combined millage, any CDD assessment, and exemptions — verify with the Polk County Property Appraiser.
It reduces taxable value by up to about $50,000 — typically $400–$600/year in savings — and locks in the 3% Save Our Homes assessment cap. File by March 1; it's free. Try the estimator above.
March 1 of the tax year (you must own and occupy the home as your permanent residence as of January 1). If March 1 falls on a weekend, the deadline moves to the next business day.
