Polk
North Carolina

20K

Population

$60K

Median Income

$320K

Median Home

R+26

Politics

Economy

Median Household Income$60K

This county

national avg ~$75K

Poverty Rate13.0%

This county

national avg ~11.5%

Unemployment Rate3.8%

This county

national avg ~3.8%

GDP per Capita$34,657

Federal Spending per Capita$544

Median Individual Earnings$35K

This county

national avg $45K

Professional/Management Workers34.5%

Average Adjusted Gross Income$80K

Avg Credit Score675

Work From Home %12.4%

This county

national avg 17.0%

Population Under 1815.7%

This county

national avg 22.0%

Single-Person Households31.8%

This county

national avg 28.0%

Banks & Finance Firms9

Income (20th Percentile)$26K

Income (80th Percentile)$120K

Income (95th Percentile)$209K

Bachelor's Degree or Higher33.5%

This county

national avg 35.0%

Less Than High School7.2%

This county

national avg 11.0%

Knowledge Economy GDP %12.4%

Dependency Ratio1.16

Medicare Spending / Person$4,543

SS Benefits / Person$6,779

Education Wage Premium1.48x

Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$40K

Median Earnings (Graduate)$51K

Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$34K

Public Assistance Recipients2.9%

Average Annual Wage$46K

Professional Services Concentration0.69x national

This county

1.0 = national average share

Housing

Median Home Value$309K

This county

$335K state avg

$303K national

Median Sale Price$286K

This county

$303K national

Market Rent (ZORI)$2073/mo

This county

$1450/mo state avg

$1400/mo national

Property Tax Rate0.58%

This county

0.70% state avg

1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $1,489

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$983/mo

Home Price Change (1 yr)+1.1%

Home Value to Income Ratio3.3x income

Severely Cost-Burdened Households7.9%

Homeownership Rate76.5%

This county

national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Listings with Price Cuts— Low — market moving fast

19.9%

Active Listings

182

New Listings / Month

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage

99 days

Months of Supply (Redfin)— High inventory — buyers market

6.3 mo

Sold Above List (Redfin)

19.2%

Sale-to-List Ratio (Redfin)— Buyers market — homes selling below list

96.4%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy77.8 yrs

This county

national avg ~78.5 years

Hospital Rating4.0 / 5

This county

national avg 3.0 stars

Food Insecurity12.2%

This county

national avg ~11%

Food Environment Index8.1 / 10

This county

higher = better access

Primary Care Shortage Score15

This county

national avg 5

Mental Health Shortage Score16

Dental Care Shortage Score16

Healthcare Shortage Score15.7

Healthcare Offices36

Obesity Rate (BRFSS)35.7%

This county

national avg 32.0%

Smoking Rate (BRFSS)14.1%

This county

national avg 14.0%

Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)17.2%

This county

national avg 18.0%

Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)21.8%

This county

national avg 24.0%

High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)32.1%

This county

national avg 32.0%

Active Physicians39

Nursing Home Rating3.0 / 5

This county

national avg ~3 stars

ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients582 / 1,000

Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$10,802

Uninsured (under 65)12.2%

This county

national avg ~10%

Adults with Depression26.8%

Education

Math Test Scores3.46 grade level

Reading Test Scores3.50 grade level

HS Diploma Holders3,434

Bachelor's Degree Holders1,714

HS Completion Rate92.8%

This county

national avg ~85%

Private Schools9

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.1 / 1,000

This county

national avg ~4.0

Firearm Fatality Rate21.4 / 100K

This county

national avg ~13.6/100K

Drug Overdose Rate21.2 / 100K

This county

national avg ~21/100K

Traffic Fatalities5

Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)36th pct

Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)17.4 / 100K

Suicide Rate27.2 / 100K

This county

national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale1.8

January Sunshine0.59

January Temperature0.86

Average Temp59°F

Avg High Temp71°F

Avg Low Temp48°F

Annual Precipitation43.6 in/yr

Avg Storm Events5.4 storms/yr

Avg Annual Storm Damage$30K

Drought Index (2022)-0.19

Heating Degree Days3,308 HDD/yr

This county

national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr

Cooling Degree Days1,277 CDD/yr

This county

national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr

Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)3,655 HDD/yr

Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,248 CDD/yr

Avg Tornadoes / Year0.0

Avg Flood Events / Year1.4

Avg Hail Events / Year0.2

Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00

Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0

Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0

Avg Heat Events / Year0.0

Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)19 / 100

Community Resilience (FEMA)26 / 100

Federal Disaster Declarations23 since 1953

Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)7.1 µg/m³

This county

EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)26 properties

FAA-Registered Airports3 total

Airports (excl. heliports)2 airports

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed88 Mbps

This county

national avg ~120 Mbps

Upload Speed32 Mbps

Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)319 Mbps

Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)77 Mbps

Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)6 Mbps

Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)54 ms

Households with 100Mbps+81.6%

This county

national avg 75.0%

Cellular-Only Internet11.1%

This county

national avg 8.0%

Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)178 Mbps

EV Infrastructure

EV Charging Stations5 stations

DC Fast Chargers2 chargers

Level 2 EV Chargers7

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers1,033 workers

Public Transit Commuters0 workers

Walk to Work156 workers

Extreme Commutes (90+ min)214 workers

Avg Commute Time23.9 min

This county

national avg ~27 min

Bike Commuters0.1%

Walk to Work1.9%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden24.1%

This county

national median ~27% of household income

Childcare Centers6.6 per 10K residents

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout73.2%

This county

national avg ~55%

Volunteering Rate1.0%

Income Inequality (Gini)4.667

Nonprofit Organizations168

Veterans Share9.0%

This county

national avg 7.0%

Married Adults57.8%

Never-Married Adults21.1%

Divorced Adults12.1%

Religious Organizations29

Asian Population0.2%

Native American Population0.2%

Membership Associations18.8 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants1.05 per 1K residents

Nursing & Care Facilities9

Grocery Stores4

Arts & Entertainment Venues6

Hotels & Lodging7

Recreation Businesses14

Professional Services Firms38

Veterinary Practices7

Real Estate Firms24

Debt Burden

Avg Mortgage Balance$63K

Avg Student Loan Balance$8K

Avg Credit Card Balance$3K

Loan Delinquency Rate47.0%

This county

national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.12%

Politics

R+26

2024 Presidential · North Carolina was R+3 statewide

vs North Carolina State

Income tax

4.5%Same (state law)

Property tax

0.58%0.7% state avg

Politics

R+26R+3

COL Index

County data94 (state)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↑ +248

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Wealthier people moving in (IRS: 1.30x avg income)

Economic Mobility

40%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Polk County

Median home value: $320K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Local News — Polk

WYFF · 4 days ago

90-year-old Upstate woman dies following crash, coroner says

A 90-year-old woman has died after she was involved in a crash over the weekend, according to the co…

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · 1 week ago

Roy Williams shares wisdom with Carolina seniors

At the Last Lecture, the Tar Heel alumnus and coaching legend told them “it doesn't get any better” …

WLOS · 3 weeks ago

BACK TO SCHOOL: Year begins this week for 4 western North Carolina districts

POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Four western North Carolina school districts will begin the 2026-27 year …

articobits.com · 3 weeks ago

MS. MARY ELIZABETH POLK Obituary in Wadesbaro at Smith's Funeral Home

In accordance with the will of our Heavenly Father, Mary Elizabeth Polk, daughter of the late Mr. Al…

MaxPreps · 6 days ago

Schedule - Polk County Wolverines (Columbus, NC) Girls Basketball 26-27

Submit the schedule. Help the team by uploading this season's schedule. ... Partnerships: ... PlayOn…

Sports Illustrated · 3 weeks ago

Polk County vs Avery County Football - Oct 23, 2026

View pregame, live and post-game details from the Polk County vs Avery County North Carolina game on…

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

PolkNorth Carolina

Polk
North Carolina