Polk County, FL Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Polk County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 797,747 | 22,318,419 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 397.1 | 312.4 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 2.63% | 1.35% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 276,604 | 8,536,315 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Polk County grew by 33.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 760,843 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Polk County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Polk County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,173 | $71,865 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.45% | 5.65% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Polk County is about 11% lower than in Florida.
Housing
| Metric | Polk County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $239,958 | $293,727 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,272 | $1,564 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.0% | 67.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Polk County is about 15.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,272 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Polk County spend about 52 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 217 hours, about 9.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Polk County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 26.0 | 23.9 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 52.0 | 47.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 217 | 200 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,719 | $6,185 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 13.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 13,187 | 14,318 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,762 | 3,068 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Florida:
Taylor County (13.8 min), Monroe County (16.1 min), Franklin County (17.1 min).
Slowest:
Osceola County (32.4 min), Union County (32.1 min), Washington County (32.1 min).
The average commute time in Polk County is 26 minutes, longer than the 24 minutes in Florida.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Polk County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Polk County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 30.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.69 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Florida:
St. Johns County (0.4), Leon County (0.4), Alachua County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hamilton County (0.1), Hendry County (0.1), Hardee County (0.1).
Health
Polk County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Polk County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.2 | 77.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 20.6% | 19.5% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 21.0% | 21.3% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Florida:
St. Johns County (0.8), Seminole County (0.8), Alachua County (0.8).
Lowest:
Glades County (0.8), Putnam County (0.8), Hendry County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Polk County, Florida.
What is the population of Polk County, Florida?
The population of Polk County, Florida is 797,747, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Polk County, Florida?
The population density of Polk County, Florida is 397.1 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Florida?
The median household income in Polk County, Florida is $64,173, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Polk County, Florida?
The median home price in Polk County, Florida is $239,958, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Polk County, Florida?
The unemployment rate in Polk County, Florida is 4.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.