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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Polk County

North Carolina · 20,510 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 $43,692. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $167,500. With a median age of 49.1, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 49.1
US median: 37.2
Average education
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,510
+12%since 2000
from 18,324 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
86 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 77 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
49.1
+9%since 2000
from 44.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K16K17K19K21K1990201020202024Polk County
202420K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,692
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,259 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,008
+21%since 2000
from $19,804 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
22.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
12.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.404
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 10.9%
Information12%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade10.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services5%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$167,500
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$639
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $515 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
39.4%
−39.3 ptssince 2000
from 78.7% in 2000
24.4% rent
Vacancy rate
18.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
23.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.6%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.8
+34%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score21.2%(3,877)
2010
White, non-Hispanic88.4%(18,126)
Black4.4%(911)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(1,122)
Asian0.3%(60)
Other0.8%(162)
Diversity Score25.5%(5,228)
Diversity Score
25
+20%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 25.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
86.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
10.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.0 min
+50%since 2000
from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
78.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 77.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
4.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
26.0%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
14.3%
−32.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Polk County

Lamar County
Pop 20,941
Long County
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+18%
Home value$201,800+20%
Population65,745+220%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Henderson County
Income$68,187+56%
Home value$351,400+110%
Population122,375+496%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Spartanburg County
Income$66,234+52%
Home value$233,300+39%
Population380,857+1755%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
McDowell County
Income$57,168+31%
Home value$171,100+2%
Population45,198+120%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, North Carolina?

Polk County, North Carolina has about 20,510 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Polk County, North Carolina earns about $43,692 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 $167,500, and the typical rent is about $639 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, North Carolina?

About 27.2% 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 12.9% of people in Polk County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Polk County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Polk County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,094 residents, a change of about 42 percent over that period.

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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 →