Polk County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Polk County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Polk County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Polk County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,030 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,247 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.6% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.0% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Polk County is about 7% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Polk County (4.5%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Polk County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Polk County, North Carolina grew by 72.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,030 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Polk County
| Metric | Polk County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.541 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,611 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,349 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.9% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Polk County, it is 0.541, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 31% more than women's income in Polk County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $499,170 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Polk County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 31% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2010, and was narrowest at 7% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,081 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Polk County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.8% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 471 people are unemployed in Polk County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Polk County is 26 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Polk County, North Carolina has fallen from 13.4% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.3% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.7% in 2020.
Polk County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Polk County, NC is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 19,891 residents against a local median of 118,522. The measure that sets Polk County, NC apart most is unemployment: 5.1%, 17% above the local median of 4.3%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.9% on unemployment, so Polk County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Polk County, NC has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County, NC | 19,891 | $67,030 #3/6 | 4.5%/yr #6/6 | 5.1% #5/6 | 0.541 #5/6 |
| Rutherford County, NC | 64,922 | $51,879 | 4.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.539 |
| Henderson County, NC | 118,522 | $69,064 | 4.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.517 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 347,752 | $66,222 | 4.9%/yr | 4.3% | 0.539 |
| McDowell County, NC | 44,809 | $57,967 | 5.7%/yr | 4.1% | 0.519 |
| Greenville County, SC | 547,972 | $77,038 | 5.0%/yr | 4.4% | 0.543 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Polk County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Polk County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Polk County, North Carolina?
Polk County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,030, about 7% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Polk County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Polk County, North Carolina rose 72%, from $38,896 to $67,030. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +72% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Polk County, North Carolina was $61,093, up 1% from $60,517 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Polk County, North Carolina was $51,260. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $67,030.
What is the Gini coefficient in Polk County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Polk County is 0.541. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Polk County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Polk County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 31% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2010, and was narrowest at 7% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,081 since 2009.
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