United States › Tennessee › Polk County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Polk County Tennessee · 17,544 residents · 435 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 17,544 people, Polk County is a county in Tennessee. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. The median age is 46.8, about 8 years above the US median. 79% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $112,700, having risen by half since 2000. The foreign-born share is 2%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 46.8
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 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K 14K 16K 17K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $45,326
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,643 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,025 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.7%
Education & health services 1.8%
Public administration 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
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$112,700
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$655
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $345 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 80.8% in 2000
21.2% rent
from 2.32 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.9 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 97.8%(15,689)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(117)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 93%(16,313)
Hispanic / Latino 1.7%(297)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 62.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 76.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 55.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 13.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.3%(2,250)
Women 15+
Never married 18.5%(1,390)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.9% 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) 23.1%(236)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.6%(211)
Share of the 1,022 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
Bradley County
Income $66,552 +47%
Home value $261,900 +132%
Population 115,465 +521%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Fannin County
Income $57,073 +26%
Home value $306,600 +172%
Population 26,111 +40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
McMinn County
Income $61,470 +36%
Home value $211,800 +88%
Population 57,404 +209%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Murray County
Income $69,253 +53%
Home value $180,700 +60%
Population 41,607 +124%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, Tennessee? Polk County, Tennessee has about 17,544 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Tennessee? The typical household in Polk County, Tennessee earns about $45,326 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Polk County, Tennessee expensive? In Polk County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $112,700, and the typical rent is about $655 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, Tennessee? About 12.6% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Tennessee? About 12.4% of people in Polk County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.
Has Polk County, Tennessee grown since 1990? Yes, Polk County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,901 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.
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