Polk County, TN 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 | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,341 | 7,021,394 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 39.2 | 166.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.85% | 0.92% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 46.6 | 37.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 7,143 | 2,766,521 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Polk County grew by 12.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 17,701 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 | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,141 | $67,486 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.34% | 5.42% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Polk County is about 11% lower than in Tennessee.
Housing
| Metric | Polk County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $98,322 | $235,307 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $667 | $1,121 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.1% | 67.0% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Polk County is about 12.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $667 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Polk County spend about 61 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 254 hours, about 10.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Polk County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 30.5 | 22.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 61.1 | 44.7 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 254 | 186 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,887 | $5,774 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 11.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,879 | 9,259 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 989 | 1,225 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Tennessee:
Dyer County (16.2 min), Fentress County (16.2 min), Henry County (16.7 min).
Slowest:
Trousdale County (37.0 min), Houston County (36.2 min), Cannon County (33.2 min).
The average commute time in Polk County is 31 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
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 F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Polk County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 27.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.44 | 2.47 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Tennessee:
Williamson County (0.4), Davidson County (0.3), Knox County (0.3).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.1), Van Buren County (0.1), Lauderdale County (0.1).
Health
Polk County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Polk County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.2 | 74.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 20.1% | 19.5% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 26.3% | 25.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Tennessee:
Williamson County (0.8), Rutherford County (0.8), Wilson County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.8), Lake County (0.8), Hancock County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Polk County, Tennessee.
What is the population of Polk County, Tennessee?
The population of Polk County, Tennessee is 17,341, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Polk County, Tennessee?
The population density of Polk County, Tennessee is 39.2 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, Tennessee?
The median household income in Polk County, Tennessee is $60,141, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Polk County, Tennessee?
The median home price in Polk County, Tennessee is $98,322, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Polk County, Tennessee?
The unemployment rate in Polk County, Tennessee is 4.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.