Polk County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Polk County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 19,891. It is the 81st most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 54.9 years. This is 40% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 15.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $67,758. This is 6% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $315,000. Housing costs are 9% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 76.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.6%. The Black or African American population (4.4%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.6%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

36.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Polk County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.