United States › North Carolina › Polk County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Polk County North Carolina · 19,328 residents · 238 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 19,328 people, Polk County is a county in North Carolina. The median age is 53.8, about 15 years above the US median. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 4%. The median household earns $52,125, about 21% below the national median. The typical home is worth $222,700, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 53.8
US median: 38.8
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 44.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K 16K 17K 19K 21K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $52,125
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,259 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $19,804 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.1%
Public administration 3.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing 1.5%
Education & health services 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$222,700
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$855
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $515 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 78.7% in 2000
24.3% rent
from 2.26 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.3 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 90.1%(16,504)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 86.5%(16,716)
Hispanic / Latino 5.3%(1,026)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data from 25.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 80.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 77.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 53.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 16.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 24.1%(1,994)
Women 15+
Never married 18.5%(1,696)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.0% 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) 11.9%(176)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.6%(157)
Share of the 1,479 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Polk County Head to head
Compare Polk County to nearby counties POLK COUNTY VS
Rutherford County
Income $51,410 −1%
Home value $201,800 −9%
Population 65,745 +220%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Henderson County
Income $68,187 +31%
Home value $351,400 +58%
Population 122,375 +496%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Spartanburg County
Income $66,234 +27%
Home value $233,300 +5%
Population 380,857 +1755%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
McDowell County
Income $57,168 +10%
Home value $171,100 −23%
Population 45,198 +120%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, North Carolina? Polk County, North Carolina has about 19,328 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Polk County, North Carolina? The typical household in Polk County, North Carolina earns about $52,125 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 $222,700, and the typical rent is about $855 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, North Carolina? About 32.7% 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 10.0% 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 4,912 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 