United States › Georgia › Polk County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Polk County Georgia · 42,853 residents · 310 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 42,853 people, Polk County is a county in Georgia. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. The typical home is worth $121,900, having risen by half since 2000. Households here earn about 23% less than in Georgia as a whole. Renters pay $720 a month at the median. 7% of locals were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
33K 36K 39K 42K 45K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $46,846
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,328 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,617 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 3%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Education & health services 2.8%
Public administration 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1%
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$121,900
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$720
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $425 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 71.3% in 2000
34.3% rent
2.73 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.73 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 77.9%(29,684)
Hispanic / Latino 7.7%(2,921)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 70.4%(30,161)
Hispanic / Latino 13%(5,585)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 63.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 59.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 32.2%(5,510)
Women 15+
Never married 28.4%(5,072)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 4.5%(100)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.2%(405)
Share of the 2,231 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Polk County Head to head
Compare Polk County to nearby counties POLK COUNTY VS
Haralson County
Income $72,127 +54%
Home value $227,500 +87%
Population 33,066 −27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Floyd County
Income $65,565 +40%
Home value $217,900 +79%
Population 101,378 +123%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Paulding County
Income $98,031 +109%
Home value $326,300 +168%
Population 190,996 +320%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Bartow County
Income $82,243 +76%
Home value $289,000 +137%
Population 120,800 +165%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, Georgia? Polk County, Georgia has about 42,853 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Georgia? The typical household in Polk County, Georgia earns about $46,846 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Polk County, Georgia expensive? In Polk County, Georgia, the median home is worth about $121,900, and the typical rent is about $720 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, Georgia? About 12.7% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Georgia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Georgia? About 18.3% of people in Polk County, Georgia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Polk County, Georgia grown since 1990? Yes, Polk County, Georgia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,038 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.
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