Polk County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

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.

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. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. 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%.