Polk County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Name: Polk County, Tennessee Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Polk County, Tennessee has a population of 17,702, the 72nd most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $60,227 and the median home value is $136,400. The poverty rate is 13.3%.

Polk County Quick Facts

Population 17,702

Median Household Income $60,227

Median Home Value $136,400

Poverty Rate 13.3%

Unemployment Rate 4.3%

Median Age 46.2 years

Homeownership Rate 84.1%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 14.7%

High School Graduation 85.7%

Cities/Places 6

Population 17,702 72nd of 95

Median Income $60,227 10% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.3%

Unemployment 4.3%

Median Household Income

Polk

$60,227

$67,097

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Polk

$136,400

$256,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.7%

$25K-$50K 20.9%

$50K-$100K 31.6%

$100K+ 24.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.3%

$10K-$15K

7.4%

$15K-$20K

3.6%

$20K-$25K

5.4%

$25K-$30K

4.3%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

5.0%

$40K-$45K

4.6%

$45K-$50K

3.0%

$50K-$60K

6.3%

$60K-$75K

10.6%

$75K-$100K

14.7%

$100K-$125K

7.6%

$125K-$150K

5.2%

$150K-$200K

4.7%

$200K+

7.4%

Employment

4.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

54.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 84.1%

Renter 15.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.2%

18-34

18.2%

35-54

26.2%

55-74

28.2%

75+

8.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Polk County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Benton	1,349	$35,000	14.5%	$167,700
Ducktown	470	N/A	32.3%	$202,800
Copperhill	409	$45,313	14.4%	$108,200
Ocoee	210	$174,773	0.0%	N/A
Farner	204	$24,871	45.1%	$103,600
Conasauga	111	N/A	27.9%	N/A

Explore Tennessee Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Polk County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 17,702. It is the 72nd most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 46.2 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $60,227. This is 10% lower than the state median of $67,097. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $136,400. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $256,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Polk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

14.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Polk County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Tennessee 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Polk County, Tennessee?

Polk County has a population of 17,702, making it the 72nd most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Polk County?

The median household income in Polk County is $60,227 with a poverty rate of 13.3%.

How many cities are in Polk County, Tennessee?

Polk County contains 6 Census-designated places.