County profile · Tennessee
Polk County, TN market data
How Polk County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 18,592
- +5.9% since 2020
- Households
- 7,424
- Median household income
- $62,522
- +44.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $169,900
- Jobs located here
- 2,324
- Highest market score
- 84
- Auto repair and car care, #70 of 2,401 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 18,592 people and 7,424 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Polk County grew 5.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Polk County is $62,522, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 44.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Polk County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 158, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
Of the business types scored in Polk County, auto repair and car care businesses (84); auto repair shops (80); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair and car care businesses, that ranks #70 of 2,401 scored counties.
Polk County is part of the Cleveland metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (62% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair and car care | 84 | #70 of 2,401 | 25 | 33.7 | $332K | 124 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 80 | #120 of 2,378 | 14 | 18.9 | $592K | 133 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 79 | #83 of 1,771 | 5 | 6.7 | $2M | 119 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 78 | #51 of 2,176 | 6 | 8.1 | Index only | 318 | 3 |
| Real estate | 76 | #81 of 2,229 | 7 | 9.4 | Index only | 343 | 6 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 74 | #259 of 2,210 | 6 | 8.1 | $2.1M | 241 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 70 | #279 of 2,339 | 9 | 12.1 | $668K | 155 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 68 | #449 of 2,222 | 8 | 10.8 | $3.1M | 103 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 66 | #476 of 2,394 | 24 | 32.3 | $312K | 205 | 13 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 65 | #459 of 2,385 | 18 | 24.2 | $334K | 157 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 63 | #566 of 2,090 | 6 | 8.1 | $4.2M | 82 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 60 | #753 of 2,405 | 33 | 44.5 | $761K | 115 | 11 |
| Gas stations | 60 | #781 of 2,358 | 17 | 22.9 | $1.6M | 66 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 58 | #853 of 2,405 | 71 | 95.6 | $354K | 95 | 20 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 52 | #842 of 1,886 | 5 | 6.7 | $1.5M | 152 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 49 | #1,056 of 2,063 | 7 | 9.4 | $3.6M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 47 | #954 of 1,656 | 6 | 8.1 | $1.2M | 70 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 47 | #1,338 of 2,402 | 19 | 25.6 | $2.2M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 36 | #1,630 of 2,261 | 14 | 18.9 | $3M | 38 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 34 | #1,038 of 1,356 | 5 | 6.7 | $1.2M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $1.5M | 168 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $1.9M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $2.1M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $8.4M | 202 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $4.2M | 334 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $14M | 150 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $6.4M | 264 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $7.7M | 610 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $3.3M | 114 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $2M | 229 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $550K | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $9.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $8.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $2.9M | Too few | 4 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $12.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $19.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $10M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $10M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 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 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 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 | $8.3M | $1,117 | 117 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $26.9M | $3,623 | 140 |
| Food away from home | $25.1M | $3,384 | 83 |
| Groceries | $41.9M | $5,645 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $6M | $810 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.9M | $393 | 68 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.6M | $620 | 63 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.5M | $1,010 | 78 |
| Pets | $5.9M | $796 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.7M | $1,717 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $23M | $3,093 | 158 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $19.3M | $2,594 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10M | $1,345 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $104M | $14,004 | 84 |
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
- 18,592+5.9% since 2020
- Households
- 7,424
- Median age
- 45.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 84%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.4
- Land area
- 435 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 41
- Median household income
- $62,522+44.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $84,888
- Median home value
- $169,900
- Jobs located here
- 2,324
- Daytime population
- 13,260Residents 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 Tennessee 8
- Bradley County, TN111,065 people
- McMinn County, TN54,884 people
- Meigs County, TN13,343 people
- Monroe County, TN47,695 people
- Hamilton County, TN376,192 people
- Rhea County, TN33,992 people
- Loudon County, TN58,580 people
- Bledsoe County, TN15,032 people
Questions
How fast is Polk County, TN growing?
Population estimates put Polk County at 18,592 people in 2025, up 5.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 7,424 households. Median household income rose 44.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Polk County, TN spend?
Households in Polk County spend about $104M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $41.9M on groceries and $26.9M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in Polk County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 158, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Polk County, TN?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Polk County are for auto repair and car care businesses (84); auto repair shops (80); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (79). Polk County ranks #70 of 2,401 scored counties for auto repair and car care businesses.
How does Polk County, TN compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Polk County is $62,522 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 5.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $169,900, 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 convenience stores (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (62% 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. 20 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.