Polk County, North Carolina
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 19,328
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 20,533
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 20,320
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 19,322
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 19,324
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 6.3%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 5.2%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 19,328
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 20,510
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 3.5%
Persons under 18 years, percent 15.0%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 33.7%
Female persons, percent 51.9%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 91.8%
Black alone, percent(a) 4.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.8%
Asian alone, percent(a) 1.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) Z
Two or More Races, percent 2.0%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 6.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 86.7%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 1,451
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 4.5%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 11,461
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 76.9%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $315,000
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,415
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $464
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $1,178
Building Permits, 2025 141
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 8,976
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.18
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 88.6%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 5.5%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 94.3%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 84.8%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 93.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 36.2%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 11.9%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.7%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 53.8%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 50.0%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 32,935
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 133,459
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) NA
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 154,546
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $7,723
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 28.4
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $67,758
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $43,211
Persons in poverty, percent 12.3%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 504
Total employment, 2023 4,151
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 166,503
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 -3.0%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 2,133
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 521
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 393
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 357
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 81.3
Population per square mile, 2010 86.3
Land area in square miles, 2020 237.69
Land area in square miles, 2010 237.79
FIPS Code 37149