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Polk County, NC
3 cities and towns and 4 ZIP codes in Polk County, North Carolina.
Population
19,891
Land area
238sq mi
People per sq mi
84
ZIP codes
4
Cities and towns in Polk County
Polk County at a glance
- Polk County is 62% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $67,758, 6% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $315,000 (9% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,178 a month.
- Its largest cities are Tryon (1,810), Columbus (1,071) and Saluda (683).
Local data for Polk County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Polk County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$67,758
Poverty rate
14.0%
Median home value
$315,000
Prices +1.1% in a year
Median rent
$1,178/mo
Homeownership
76.9%
Bachelor's or higher
36.2%
Median age
54.9
Average commute
28.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (2,538), German Americans (2,296), Scottish Americans (824).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.7%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,328
5,598 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$72,236
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$222M
FY 2026, $11,501 per person
PPP loans
$22.9M
396 loans, 3,250 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$228K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Polk County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone70.4%
- Carpooled11.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home15.8%
Average one-way commute: 28.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Polk County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
386
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
80
0.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 32°F
64.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone14 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Polk County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.2%
U.S. 33.3% +1.9 pts
Diabetes
14.1%
U.S. 12.1% +2.0 pts
Smoking
13.0%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
8.8%
U.S. 11.1% -2.3 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Polk County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Polk County, NC?
- Tryon is the largest city or town in Polk County, with about 1,810 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Polk County?
- Polk County includes 4 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28722, 28756, 28773, 28782.
- What is the population of Polk County, NC?
- About 19,891 people live in Polk County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Polk County?
- Polk County borders Greenville County, SC, Spartanburg County, SC, Henderson County, Rutherford County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023