Polk County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Polk County is located in Texas with a total population of 51,780. It is the 66th most populous county out of 254 in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 43.9 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $59,066. This is 23% lower than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.1%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 9.0%. This is 75% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $154,000. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Polk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Polk County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (71.4% vs 39.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (15.1%) is well below the state average of 39.5%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

13.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.8%.