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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Polk County

Florida · 602,095 residents · 1,798.119 sq mi
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The short version

Polk County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $43,946. Population has grown 24% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $141,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 39.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 61%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
602,095
+24%since 2000
from 483,924 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
335 / sq mi
+24%since 2000
from 269 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
39.8
+3%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
367K482K598K714K829K1990201020202024Polk County
2024791K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,946
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,036 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,881
+20%since 2000
from $18,302 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
23.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
15.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information14.3%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$141,900
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,800 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$835
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $501 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
43.5%
−29.9 ptssince 2000
from 73.4% in 2000
29.5% rent
Vacancy rate
19.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
31.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.2
+67%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.7%(361,366)
Black13.3%(64,544)
Hispanic / Latino9.5%(45,933)
Asian0.9%(4,448)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.6%(239,911)
2010
White, non-Hispanic64.6%(388,769)
Black14.2%(85,336)
Hispanic / Latino17.7%(106,532)
Asian1.6%(9,567)
Other1.9%(11,519)
Diversity Score66.3%(399,255)
Diversity Score
66
+34%since 2000
from 50 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
81.9%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 74.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.4 min
+48%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
28.4%
−30.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
10.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
12.3%
−36.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Polk County

Oklahoma County
Pop 822,125
Milwaukee County
Pop 924,216
Shelby County
Pop 910,226
Marion County
Pop 992,196
Places similar to Polk County
Head to head

Compare Polk County to nearby counties

POLK COUNTY VS
Hardee County
Income$60,489+38%
Home value$153,600+8%
Population25,932−97%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Osceola County
Income$72,637+65%
Home value$353,300+149%
Population481,718−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Hillsborough County
Income$79,540+81%
Home value$371,500+162%
Population1,574,115+80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Orange County
Income$79,719+81%
Home value$390,100+175%
Population1,528,002+75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, Florida?

Polk County, Florida has about 602,095 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Polk County, Florida?

The typical household in Polk County, Florida earns about $43,946 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Polk County, Florida expensive?

In Polk County, Florida, the median home is worth about $141,900, and the typical rent is about $835 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, Florida?

About 18.0% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Florida?

About 15.2% of people in Polk County, Florida live below the federal poverty line.

Has Polk County, Florida grown since 1990?

Yes, Polk County, Florida has grown since 1990. The population has added about 196,713 residents, a change of about 49 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

174 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 125.02Census Tract 124.05Census Tract 125.14Census Tract 125.06Census Tract 148.04Census Tract 145.01Census Tract 124.13Census Tract 124.11Census Tract 141.27Census Tract 121.27Census Tract 125.15Census Tract 144.01Census Tract 115.02Census Tract 124.12Census Tract 118.34Census Tract 149.06Census Tract 141.23Census Tract 129Census Tract 128.04Census Tract 141.28
40 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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