County profile · North Carolina
Polk County, NC market data
How Polk County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 20,533
- +6.0% since 2020
- Households
- 8,976
- Median household income
- $67,758
- +38.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $315,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,495
- Highest market score
- 90
- Insurance agencies, #53 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Polk County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Polk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Polk County has an estimated 20,533 people and 8,976 households. Population estimates put the population change in Polk County from 2020 to 2025 at +6.0%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Polk County is $67,758, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 38.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Polk County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (72).
Of the business types scored in Polk County, insurance agencies (90), fast food and sandwich shops (83) and auto repair and car care businesses (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #53 of 2,272 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet businesses (3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (47% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Polk County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Polk County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 90 | #53 of 2,272 | 6 | 6.7 | $4M | 315 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 83 | #85 of 2,222 | 6 | 6.7 | $5.5M | 179 | 11 |
| Auto repair and car care | 76 | #208 of 2,401 | 26 | 29.0 | $336K | 125 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 75 | #237 of 2,087 | 7 | 7.8 | $2.4M | 186 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 72 | #321 of 2,210 | 11 | 12.3 | $1.5M | 171 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 71 | #318 of 2,378 | 16 | 17.8 | $545K | 123 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 69 | #483 of 2,402 | 18 | 20.1 | $2.9M | 87 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 67 | #344 of 1,886 | 6 | 6.7 | $1.6M | 164 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 66 | #541 of 2,358 | 15 | 16.7 | $1.9M | 78 | 8 |
| Pizza | 65 | #492 of 2,090 | 8 | 8.9 | $4.1M | 81 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 60 | #494 of 1,771 | 7 | 7.8 | $1.8M | 110 | 20 |
| Hair salons | 58 | #786 of 2,339 | 17 | 18.9 | $458K | 106 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 57 | #795 of 2,070 | 8 | 8.9 | $6.6M | 71 | 3 |
| Gyms | 55 | #725 of 1,792 | 5 | 5.6 | $1.3M | 98 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 52 | #784 of 1,656 | 6 | 6.7 | $1.6M | 91 | 10 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 51 | #983 of 2,063 | 10 | 11.1 | $3.3M | 88 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 49 | #909 of 1,707 | 7 | 7.8 | $3.6M | 75 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 47 | #794 of 1,493 | 6 | 6.7 | $2.2M | 74 | 20 |
| Home repair trades | 47 | #1,205 of 2,057 | 15 | 16.7 | $1.7M | 69 | 15 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 47 | #1,332 of 2,405 | 103 | 114.8 | $318K | 86 | 36 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 47 | #1,358 of 2,385 | 37 | 41.2 | $211K | 99 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 46 | #1,387 of 2,394 | 65 | 72.4 | $149K | 98 | 19 |
| Roofing and gutters | 43 | #754 of 1,177 | 5 | 5.6 | $5M | 59 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 42 | #1,230 of 1,889 | 11 | 12.3 | $3M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 40 | #1,645 of 2,405 | 53 | 59.0 | $617K | 93 | 23 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 37 | #1,591 of 2,088 | 13 | 14.5 | $491K | 74 | 6 |
| Real estate | 37 | #1,815 of 2,229 | 42 | 46.8 | Index only | 73 | 20 |
| Pet stores | 36 | #704 of 974 | 5 | 5.6 | $1.6M | 35 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 35 | #1,088 of 1,461 | 7 | 7.8 | $1.1M | 44 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 35 | #1,151 of 1,490 | 6 | 6.7 | $1.6M | 67 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #1,871 of 2,176 | 40 | 44.6 | Index only | 61 | 12 |
| Spas and skin care | 33 | #1,470 of 1,769 | 15 | 16.7 | $519K | 59 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 32 | #672 of 777 | 5 | 5.6 | $1.3M | 31 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 32 | #1,837 of 2,200 | 28 | 31.2 | $279K | 32 | 9 |
| Veterinarians | 31 | #1,201 of 1,485 | 9 | 10.0 | $868K | 32 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.2M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.4M | 77 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $1.3M | 133 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $17.6M | 224 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $8.4M | 70 | 6 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $5.5M | 44 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $2.1M | 105 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $3.2M | 134 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $1M | Too few | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $3.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $8.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $12.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $8.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Polk County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $8.7M | $972 | 101 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $27.8M | $3,098 | 119 |
| Food away from home | $32.7M | $3,646 | 90 |
| Groceries | $52.8M | $5,887 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.8M | $868 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4M | $446 | 77 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.4M | $710 | 72 |
| Medical and dental services | $9.7M | $1,078 | 84 |
| Pets | $7.8M | $870 | 96 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $16.6M | $1,847 | 90 |
| Vehicle insurance | $23.7M | $2,641 | 135 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $25.1M | $2,799 | 93 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $12.9M | $1,442 | 102 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $132.7M | $14,780 | 89 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Polk County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 20,533+6.0% since 2020
- Households
- 8,976
- Median age
- 53.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 238 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 84
- Median household income
- $67,758+38.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $96,279
- Median home value
- $315,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,495
- Daytime population
- 17,071Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Polk County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Polk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Rutherford County, NC64,930 people
- Henderson County, NC118,484 people
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
- Buncombe County, NC274,360 people
- Transylvania County, NC33,691 people
- Cleveland County, NC100,991 people
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Yancey County, NC18,797 people
Questions
How fast is Polk County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Polk County at 20,533 people in 2025, up 6.0% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 8,976 households. Median household income rose 38.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Polk County, NC spend?
Households in Polk County spend about $132.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $52.8M on groceries and $32.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Polk County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (72).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Polk County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Polk County are for insurance agencies (90), fast food and sandwich shops (83) and auto repair and car care businesses (76). Polk County ranks #53 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
How does Polk County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Polk County is $67,758 a year, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 6.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $315,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Polk County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet businesses (3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (47% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 35 of the 56 business types have a score in Polk County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Polk County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Polk County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Polk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.