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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Polk County

North Carolina · 14,416 residents · 237.687 sq mi
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The short version

Polk County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $26,801. Population has fallen 21% since 2000, a loss of 3,908 residents. Median home value is $67,600. With a median age of 42.8, the population is older than the US median of 33.0.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 33.0
Average education
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,416
−21%vs 2000
vs 18,324 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
42.8
−5%vs 2000
vs 44.9 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K16K17K19K21K1990201020202024Polk County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.3%(768)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 95.1%(739)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.2%(889)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 194.9%(703)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.2%(752)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3412.2%(1,761)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414.1%(2,026)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.3%(1,480)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6412%(1,730)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7413.9%(2,004)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 848.3%(1,193)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2.6%(371)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,801
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $36,259 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,213
−28%vs 2000
vs $19,804 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
9.6%
−0.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 10.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$67,600
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $103,900 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$332
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $515 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
79.9%
+1.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 78.7% in 2000
20.1% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.1%(16,504)
Black5.8%(1,061)
Hispanic / Latino3%(551)
Asian0.2%(39)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(13,283)
Black7.3%(1,050)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(106)
Asian0.3%(40)
Other0.3%(43)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.2%(631)
Puerto Rican0.8%(152)
Guatemalan0.6%(114)
Spaniard0.3%(57)
Honduran0.2%(42)
Cuban0.2%(35)
Colombian0.1%(28)
Peruvian0.1%(28)
Salvadoran0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Pakistani0.3%(59)
Korean0.3%(51)
Chinese0.1%(20)
Vietnamese0.1%(16)
Ancestry
English19.6%(3,908)
Irish12.8%(2,538)
German11.5%(2,296)
American10.9%(2,169)
Scottish4.1%(824)
Scotch-Irish3.5%(695)
Italian3.1%(626)
French2.9%(584)
British1.4%(276)
Polish1%(203)
Dutch1%(195)
Norwegian1%(191)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.6%(128)
Welsh0.6%(119)
Greek0.5%(91)
Canadian0.4%(84)
Danish0.4%(70)
Swiss0.3%(52)
Czech0.3%(51)
Hungarian0.2%(36)
Russian0.2%(35)
Slovak0.1%(21)
Arab0.1%(18)
Austrian0.1%(17)
Finnish0.1%(15)
West Indian0.1%(15)
Belgian0.1%(12)
Brazilian0.1%(12)
Ukrainian0.1%(11)
Lithuanian0.1%(10)
Jamaican0.1%(10)
Iranian0%(9)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.1%
−5.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 25.7% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
69.6%
−11.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 80.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
7.1%
−2.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 9.6% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.9 min
+22%vs 2000
vs 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married24.1%(1,994)
Married62.3%(5,148)
Widowed5%(412)
Divorced8.6%(713)
Women 15+
Never married18.5%(1,696)
Married55.8%(5,124)
Widowed13.3%(1,218)
Divorced12.4%(1,139)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Polk County

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Pop 20,941
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Pop 21,557
Gilchrist County
Pop 20,488
Plumas County
Pop 18,583
Places similar to Polk County
Head to head

Compare Polk County to nearby counties

POLK COUNTY VS
Rutherford County
Income$51,410+92%
Home value$201,800+199%
Population65,745+220%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Henderson County
Income$68,187+154%
Home value$351,400+420%
Population122,375+496%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Spartanburg County
Income$66,234+147%
Home value$233,300+245%
Population380,857+1755%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
McDowell County
Income$57,168+113%
Home value$171,100+153%
Population45,198+120%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, North Carolina?

Polk County, North Carolina has about 14,416 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Polk County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Polk County, North Carolina earns about $26,801 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Polk County, North Carolina expensive?

In Polk County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $67,600, and the typical rent is about $332 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, North Carolina?

About 20.1% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Polk County, North Carolina?

About 9.6% of people in Polk County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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8 census tracts
Census Tract 9201.04Census Tract 9201.03Census Tract 9202.01Census Tract 9203.04Census Tract 9201.01Census Tract 9203.03Census Tract 9202.02Census Tract 9203.01
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 28782ZIP 28722ZIP 28756ZIP 28773
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →