Polk County, FL

County

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2023 Population

760,961

3.36% 1-year growth

US Senator

Rick Scott

Republican Party

US Senator

Ashley Moody

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

39.6

0.503% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

14.7%

0.735% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$63,644

4.5% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$240,000

11.3% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

333,548

4.16% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Polk County, FL had a population of 761k people with a median age of 39.6 and a median household income of $63,644. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Polk County, FL grew from 736,229 to 760,961, a 3.36% increase and its median household income grew from $60,901 to $63,644, a 4.5% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, FL are White (Non-Hispanic) (52.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (14.2%), Other (Hispanic) (10.8%), Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) (8.08%), and White (Hispanic) (7.22%).

None of the households in Polk County, FL reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

93.9% of the residents in Polk County, FL are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Polk County, FL are Polk State College (1,966 degrees awarded in 2023), Southeastern University (1,538 degrees), and Florida Southern College (893 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Polk County, FL was $240,000, and the homeownership rate was 70%.

Most people in Polk County, FL drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 30.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Polk County, FL was 2 cars per household.

Polk County, FL borders Hardee County, FL, Highlands County, FL, Hillsborough County, FL, Lake County, FL, Manatee County, FL, Okeechobee County, FL, Orange County, FL, Osceola County, FL, Pasco County, FL, and Sumter County, FL.

About the photo: Path to Pinewood Bok Tower Gardensin Lake Wales, Florida

Photo by Trish Hartmann

United States Florida Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Population & Diversity

Polk County, FL is home to a population of 761k people, from which 93.9% are citizens. As of 2023, 11.5% of Polk County, FL residents were born outside of the country (87.3k people).

In 2023, there were 3.71 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (400k people) in Polk County, FL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 108k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 81.9k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

93.9%

2023 Citizenship

94.3%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 93.9% of Polk County, FL residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Polk County, FL was 94.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Polk County, FL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, FL

White (Non-Hispanic)
400k ± 1.02k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
108k ± 2.04k
Other (Hispanic)
81.9k ± 4.35k

27.7%

Hispanic Population

211k people

27.7% of the people in Polk County, FL are hispanic (211k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Polk County, FL as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Florida.

Most Common Origin

Cuba
1,008,771 ± 24,085 people
Haiti
353,350 ± 14,476 people
Colombia
307,955 ± 13,528 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Florida was Cuba, the natal country of 1,008,771 Florida residents, followed by Haiti with 353,350 and Colombia with 307,955.

Foreign-Born Population

11.5%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

87.3k people

10.8%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

79.6k people

As of 2023, 11.5% of Polk County, FL residents (87.3k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Polk County, FL was 10.8%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Polk County, FL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
14,912 ± 726
Gulf War (2001-)
9,370 ± 949
Gulf War (1990s)
6,284 ± 575

Polk County, FL has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.59 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Polk County, FL employs 334k people. In 2023, the largest industries in Polk County, FL were Retail Trade (46,311 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (39,474 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (29,141 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($87,870), Utilities ($61,946), and Management of Companies & Enterprises ($60,855).

Employment

Occupations

334k

2023 Value

± 5,349

4.16%

1 Year growth

± 2.24%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Polk County, FL grew at a rate of 4.16%, from 320k employees to 334k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Polk County, FL, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (42,844 people), Sales & Related Occupations (35,842 people), and Management Occupations (30,770 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Polk County, FL.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Florida (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

334k

2023 Value

± 5,349

4.16%

1 Year growth

± 2.24%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Polk County, FL grew at a rate of 4.16%, from 320k employees to 334k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Polk County, FL, are Retail Trade (46,311 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (39,474 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (29,141 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Polk County, FL, though some of these residents may live in Polk County, FL and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$44,756

Median earning men ± $1,051

$34,620

Median earning women ± $764

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($61,962), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($53,903), and Wholesale Trade ($53,219).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($52,635), Public Administration ($42,046), and Wholesale Trade ($41,983).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

Y-Axis

4.23%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 9.69M people employed in Florida. This represents a 4.23% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 12.6%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Florida.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

1,121
Construction
924
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
887
Other Services (except Public Administration)

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.78M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$1.2M
Retail Trade
$1.18M
Manufacturing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Florida went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43%), followed by Jill Stein (0.396%).

Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are the senators currently representing the state of Florida. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Florida is currently represented by 26 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Polk County, FL. Showing the available data for Florida.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (56.1%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (43%)
Democratic Party
Jill Stein (0.396%)
Green Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Florida went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43%), followed by Jill Stein (0.396%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Florida for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Florida

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

Rick Scott

Senator from Florida

Assumed office on January 8, 2019
Inauguration delayed in order to finish his term as Governor of Florida.

Ashley Moody

Senator from Florida

Assumed office on January 21, 2025
While elections for full class 3 terms will take place in 2028, Florida will hold a special election in 2026 to elect a senator to complete the remainder of Marco Rubio's term.

Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are the senators currently representing Florida.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Florida over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Florida

Florida is currently represented by 26 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Florida have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2023, universities in Polk County, FL awarded 5,822 degrees. The student population of Polk County, FL in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 11,106 male students and 15,112 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Polk County, FL are White (3,142 and 55.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (1,312 and 23.2%), Black or African American (796 and 14%), and Two or More Races (169 and 2.98%).

The largest universities in Polk County, FL by number of degrees awarded are Polk State College (1,966 and 33.8%), Southeastern University (1,538 and 26.4%), and Florida Southern College (893 and 15.3%).

The most popular majors in Polk County, FL are Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,049 and 18%), Divinity & Ministry (376 and 6.46%), and General Business Administration & Management (348 and 5.98%).

The median tuition costs in Polk County, FL are $29,406 for private four year colleges, and $2,818 and $6,543 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Polk County, FL, the percentage of applicants admitted was 61.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 21.2%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 26,218 (42.4% men and 57.6% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 26,218 students enrolled in Polk County, FL, 42.4% men and 57.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 13,086 records, of which 57.7% were women and 42.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Business Administration, Management, & Operations
224 degrees awarded
Divinity & Ministry
205 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
182 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Polk County, FL was Other Business Administration, Management, & Operations with 224 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Polk County, FL according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Polk State College
1,966 degrees awarded
Southeastern University
1,538 degrees awarded
Florida Southern College
893 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Polk State College with 1,966 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 2,376 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Polk County, FL, which is 0.689 times less than the 3,446 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,142 degrees mean that there were 2.39 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 1,312 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($29,406) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,336) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,600) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

Measure

In 2023, 1.24% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.24% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2023 were High School or Equivalent (4.99M), Some college (3.57M), and Bachelors Degree (3.46M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Polk County, FL was $240,000 in 2023, which is 0.791 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $215,700 to $240,000, a 11.3% increase. The homeownership rate in Polk County, FL is 70%, which is higher than the national average of 65%.

People in Polk County, FL have an average commute time of 30.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Polk County, FL is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Polk County, FL is $63,644. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Polk County, FL was Census Tract 118.21, Polk County, FL with a value of $121,250, followed by Census Tract 118.35, Polk County, FL and Census Tract 105.01, Polk County, FL, with respective values of $112,554 and $111,000.

In 2024, 16.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Polk County, FL. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator declined 2.2%.

Housing

Property

$240,000

Median Property Value 2023

±$2,999

$193,698

Median Property Taxes

±$3,513

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Polk County, FL the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Polk County, FL compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

70%

Homeownership

2023

67.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 70% of the housing units in Polk County, FL were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 69.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Polk County, FL compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 118.21, Polk County, FL
Census Tract 118.35, Polk County, FL
Census Tract 105.01, Polk County, FL

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Polk County, FL was Census Tract 118.21, Polk County, FL with a value of $121,250, followed by Census Tract 118.35, Polk County, FL and Census Tract 105.01, Polk County, FL, with respective values of $112,554 and $111,000.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Polk County, FL colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$63,644

Median Household Income

± $868

277k

Number of Households

± 4,688

In 2023, the median household income of the 277k households in Polk County, FL grew to $63,644 from the previous year's value of $60,901.

The following chart displays the households in Polk County, FL distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Polk County, FL is from Florida.

0.473

2023 Wage GINI in Florida

0.474

2022 Wage GINI in Florida

In 2023, the income inequality in Florida was 0.473 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.136% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Florida was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Florida in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Florida across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (77.4%)
Worked At Home (10.8%)
Carpooled (8.33%)

In 2023, 77.4% of workers in Polk County, FL drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10.8%) and those who carpooled to work (8.33%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

30.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Polk County, FL have a longer commute time (30.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 3.3% of the workforce in Polk County, FL have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Polk County, FL compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Polk County, FL distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Polk County, FL have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2024, 16.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Polk County, FL. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator declined 2.2%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

14.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Polk County, FL (109k out of 744k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Polk County, FL is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2024, 24.2% of the children was living in poverty in Polk County, FL. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator declined 3.3%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 341 in Polk County, FL. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 86.1 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

87% of the population of Polk County, FL has health coverage, with 38.3% on employee plans, 17.9% on Medicaid, 14.9% on Medicare, 14.3% on non-group plans, and 1.67% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Polk County, FL see 2,172 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.822% decrease from the previous year (2,190 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2822 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 834 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.1% were men and 50.9% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,172 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Polk County, FL

Primary care physicians in Polk County, FL see an average of 2,172 patients per year. This represents a 0.822% decrease from the previous year (2,190 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Polk County, FL in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.7% under 18 years, 20.5% between 18 and 34 years, 36.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 19.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.1% were men and 50.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

13%

Uninsured

38.3%

Employer Coverage

17.9%

Medicaid

14.9%

Medicare

14.3%

Non-Group

1.67%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Polk County, FL declined by 0.17% from 13% to 13%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Polk County, FL changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2024, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 61.9 in Polk County, FL.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Polk County, FL.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2024, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 36.3% in Polk County, FL.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Polk County, FL.