Polk County, Florida Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Polk County is located in Florida with a total population of 760,961. It is the 9th most populous county out of 67 in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 39.6 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $63,644. This is 11% lower than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.7%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $240,000. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 70.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Polk County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 27.7%.

Education

22.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 33.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.5%.