Population 790,694 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Polk County
Household size in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.93 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.80 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Polk County holds 2.80 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.64, even as the national average fell. Polk County has larger households than the great majority of Florida counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.5 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.1 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.5, the median age in Polk County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in Florida overall, where the median age is 43.5. Polk County is younger than the great majority of Florida counties.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Polk County than nationally: 13.1%, against 11.6%. Compared with other Florida counties, Polk County has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Polk County
Renters in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.4% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.5% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Polk County own their homes; 29.5% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 42.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the north. The renter share is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Polk County: 14.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 4.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Polk County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $916 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $958 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,094 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,499 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$583 | +$724 | +$606 |
The median renter in Polk County pays $1,499 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Florida overall ($1,816). Rent has climbed $583 a month since 2006–10, up 64%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 33.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Polk County
Bachelor's degrees in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.4% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Polk County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 23.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.1% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.3% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.0% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.7% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Polk County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.7 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Polk County is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Polk County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 2.80 | 40.5 | 13.1% | 29.5% | 14.4% | 1992 | $1,499 | 23.4% | 87.7% | 4.9% |
| Osceola County | 3.03 | 37.4 | 13.1% | 34.7% | 14.5% | 2002 | $1,870 | 30.7% | 90.0% | 5.2% |
| Hardee County | 3.12 | 36.6 | 17.4% | 28.6% | 16.0% | 1988 | $985 | 12.1% | 75.6% | 4.8% |
| Hillsborough County | 2.66 | 38.8 | 12.1% | 38.5% | 8.0% | 1991 | $1,830 | 37.9% | 89.4% | 4.6% |
| Orange County | 2.81 | 37.5 | 12.0% | 43.2% | 11.1% | 1994 | $1,936 | 40.0% | 90.7% | 5.6% |
| Highlands County | 2.28 | 52.1 | 9.0% | 21.4% | 18.3% | 1986 | $1,160 | 20.7% | 86.3% | 6.8% |
| Pasco County | 2.67 | 44.0 | 9.6% | 24.3% | 11.4% | 1995 | $1,742 | 31.1% | 91.8% | 4.6% |
| Lake County | 2.58 | 46.4 | 9.5% | 22.4% | 12.7% | 1998 | $1,718 | 29.6% | 91.8% | 4.3% |
| Hernando County | 2.57 | 47.0 | 11.2% | 17.5% | 10.3% | 1993 | $1,435 | 21.5% | 90.5% | 5.4% |
| Seminole County | 2.62 | 40.6 | 10.3% | 33.8% | 7.1% | 1990 | $1,926 | 43.0% | 94.0% | 4.2% |
| Sumter County | 1.98 | 62.9 | 5.1% | 12.4% | 16.8% | 2005 | $1,578 | 35.6% | 92.7% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bernalillo County, NM · Will County, IL · Tulsa County, OK · Suffolk County, MA · San Mateo County, CA · San Joaquin County, CA · Oklahoma County, OK · Monroe County, NY · Lee County, FL · Jefferson County, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Polk County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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