United States › Texas › Polk County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Polk County Texas · 50,123 residents · 1,057 sq mi
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The short version
With 50,123 people, Polk County is a county in Texas. The median age is 47.7, about 9 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 14% of adults. Owners hold 77% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $125,500, having more than doubled since 2000. The population is up 22% since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 47.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K 35K 42K 48K 55K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $50,351
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,495 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,834 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.4%
Public administration 2.9%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Education & health services 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
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$125,500
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$789
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 81.7% in 2000
23.0% rent
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.0 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 74.7%(30,723)
Hispanic / Latino 9.4%(3,861)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 69.4%(34,808)
Hispanic / Latino 14.7%(7,345)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 70.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 77.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 48.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 24.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.7%(7,085)
Women 15+
Never married 19.9%(4,011)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 24.6% 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) 16.8%(768)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.4%(658)
Share of the 4,579 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
San Jacinto County
Income $65,364 +30%
Home value $209,300 +67%
Population 29,488 −45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Tyler County
Income $55,396 +10%
Home value $157,300 +25%
Population 20,443 −62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Trinity County
Income $52,018 +3%
Home value $119,500 −5%
Population 14,384 −73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Angelina County
Income $60,960 +21%
Home value $163,500 +30%
Population 88,154 +65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, Texas? Polk County, Texas has about 50,123 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Texas? The typical household in Polk County, Texas earns about $50,351 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Polk County, Texas expensive? In Polk County, Texas, the median home is worth about $125,500, and the typical rent is about $789 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, Texas? About 14.3% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Texas? About 16.7% of people in Polk County, Texas live below the federal poverty line.
Has Polk County, Texas grown since 1990? Yes, Polk County, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 19,436 residents, a change of about 63 percent over that period.
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