Polk County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Polk County is located in Georgia with a total population of 43,365. It is the 48th most populous county out of 159 in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 38.5 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $55,308. This is 26% lower than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.4%. This is 44% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $163,500. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $272,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 64.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 65.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Polk County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.5%. The Black or African American population (11.9%) is well below the state average of 31.0%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 4.3%.

Education

14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.1%.