Polk County, FL

County

Add Comparison

2021 Population

713,148

1.05% 1-year growth

US Senator

Marco Rubio

Republican Party

US Senator

Rick Scott

Republican Party

2021 Median Age

40.1

0.249% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

14.6%

3.58% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$55,099

6.92% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$177,900

9.54% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

304,690

2.76% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Polk County, FL had a population of 713k people with a median age of 40.1 and a median household income of $55,099. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Polk County, FL grew from 705,735 to 713,148, a 1.05% increase and its median household income grew from $51,535 to $55,099, a 6.92% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, FL are White (Non-Hispanic) (56%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (14.5%), White (Hispanic) (12.5%), Other (Hispanic) (6.71%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (4.95%).

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.

94.7% of the residents in Polk County, FL are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Polk County, FL are Polk State College (2,762 degrees awarded in 2021), Southeastern University (1,595 degrees), and Florida Southern College (925 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Polk County, FL was $177,900, and the homeownership rate was 69.1%.

Most people in Polk County, FL drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 29.1 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 713k people, from which 94.7% are citizens. As of 2021, 10.4% of Polk County, FL residents were born outside of the country (74.1k people).

In 2021, there were 3.86 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (399k people) in Polk County, FL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 103k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 89.2k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94.7%

2021 Citizenship

94.6%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 94.7% of Polk County, FL residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Polk County, FL was 94.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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)
399k ± 964
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
103k ± 1.42k
White (Hispanic)
89.2k ± 3.61k

24.9%

Hispanic Population

177k people

24.9% of the people in Polk County, FL are hispanic (177k people).

The following chart shows the 7 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
993,450 ± 23,894 people
Haiti
340,538 ± 14,212 people
Colombia
292,600 ± 13,189 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Florida was Cuba, the natal country of 993,450 Florida residents, followed by Haiti with 340,538 and Colombia with 292,600.

Foreign-Born Population

10.4%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

74.1k people

10.5%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

74.4k people

As of 2021, 10.4% of Polk County, FL residents (74.1k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Polk County, FL was 10.5%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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
15,559 ± 844
Gulf War (2001-)
7,629 ± 852
Gulf War (1990s)
5,804 ± 621

Polk County, FL has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.04 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Polk County, FL employs 305k people. The largest industries in Polk County, FL are Retail Trade (43,772 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,575 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (26,370 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($63,500), Utilities ($55,477), and Finance & Insurance ($50,243).

Males in Florida have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $51,213. The income inequality in Florida (measured using the Gini index) is 0.473, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

305k

2021 Value

± 5,187

2.76%

1 Year growth

± 2.34%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Polk County, FL grew at a rate of 2.76%, from 296k employees to 305k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Polk County, FL, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (41,435 people), Sales & Related Occupations (33,617 people), and Management Occupations (24,953 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.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

305k

2021 Value

± 5,187

2.76%

1 Year growth

± 2.34%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Polk County, FL grew at a rate of 2.76%, from 296k employees to 305k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Polk County, FL, are Retail Trade (43,772 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (37,575 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (26,370 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

$39,066

Median earning men ± $901

$29,905

Median earning women ± $724

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Public Administration ($53,336), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($50,911), and Manufacturing ($46,499).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($42,969), Public Administration ($38,340), and Construction ($35,877).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Florida. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

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

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

4,232
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
3,108
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
2,911
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

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

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$3.91M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$3.49M
Manufacturing
$2.33M
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

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

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Florida to other states, or from other states to Florida.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Florida product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $93.7B, followed by Electronics ($57.8B) and Pharmaceuticals ($56.4B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Florida products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Florida.

$640B

2020 Value in Florida

$1.41T

Projected 2050 Value in Florida

121% growth

In 2020, total outbound Florida trade was $640B. This is expected to increase 121% to $1.41T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Florida trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Florida to other states, or from other states to Florida.

Most Common Trade Partners

Georgia
$22.9B
Texas
$17.8B
California
$14.6B

In 2020, the top outbound Florida domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Georgia with $22.9B, followed by Texas with $17.8B and California and $14.6B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Florida shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Polk County, FL went to Donald J. Trump with 56.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (42.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.756%).

Marco Rubio and Rick Scott 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 28 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

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (56.7%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (42.3%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.756%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Polk County, FL went to Donald J. Trump with 56.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (42.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.756%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Polk County, FL for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Florida

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

Marco Rubio

Senator from Florida

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Rick Scott

Senator from Florida

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

Marco Rubio and Rick Scott 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 28 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 2021, universities in Polk County, FL awarded 6,680 degrees. The student population of Polk County, FL in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 21,712 male students and 30,294 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Polk County, FL are White (3,791 and 58.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (1,359 and 20.8%), Black or African American (909 and 13.9%), and Asian (167 and 2.56%).

The largest universities in Polk County, FL by number of degrees awarded are Polk State College (2,762 and 41.3%), Southeastern University (1,595 and 23.9%), and Florida Southern College (925 and 13.8%).

The most popular majors in Polk County, FL are Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,333 and 20%), Divinity & Ministry (441 and 6.6%), and General Business Administration & Management (413 and 6.18%).

The median tuition costs in Polk County, FL are $26,806 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 2021 in Polk County, FL, the percentage of applicants admitted was 54.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 25.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 52,006 (41.7% men and 58.3% 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 2021 there were 52,006 students enrolled in Polk County, FL, 41.7% men and 58.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 27,106 records, of which 57.8% were women and 42.2% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Business Administration, Management, & Operations
283 degree-majors awarded
Divinity & Ministry
248 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
217 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Polk County, FL was Other Business Administration, Management, & Operations with 283 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
2,762 degrees awarded
Southeastern University
1,595 degrees awarded
Florida Southern College
925 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Polk State College with 2,762 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 2,540 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Polk County, FL, which is 0.614 times less than the 4,140 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,791 degrees mean that there were 2.79 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 1,359 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 ($26,806) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,336) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

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 2021, 1.12% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.13% 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 2021 were High School or Equivalent (4.9M), Some college (3.57M), and Bachelors Degree (3.2M).

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 $177,900 in 2021, which is 0.726 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $162,400 to $177,900, a 9.54% increase. The homeownership rate in Polk County, FL is 69.1%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Polk County, FL have an average commute time of 29.1 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 $55,099. In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Polk County, FL was Census Tract 118.22 with a value of $109,444, followed by Census Tract 118.35 and Census Tract 118.21, with respective values of $102,976 and $96,625.

In 2022, 16.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Polk County, FL. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 1.75%.

Housing

Property

$177,900

Median Property Value 2021

±$2,546

$175,038

Median Property Taxes

±$3,262

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 < $800 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

69.1%

Homeownership

2021

66.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 69.1% of the housing units in Polk County, FL were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 69.5%.

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 118.22
Census Tract 118.35
Census Tract 118.21

In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Polk County, FL was Census Tract 118.22 with a value of $109,444, followed by Census Tract 118.35 and Census Tract 118.21, with respective values of $102,976 and $96,625.

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.

$55,099

Median Household Income

± $846

253k

Number of Households

± 4,239

In 2021, the median household income of the 253k households in Polk County, FL grew to $55,099 from the previous year's value of $51,535.

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

2021 Wage GINI in Florida

0.472

2020 Wage GINI in Florida

In 2021, the income inequality in Florida was 0.473 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.108% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Florida was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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 2021

Drove Alone (80.9%)
Carpooled (9.01%)
Worked At Home (7.26%)

In 2021, 80.9% of workers in Polk County, FL drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.01%) and those who worked at home (7.26%).

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

29.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Polk County, FL have a longer commute time (29.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 2.95% 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 2022, 16.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Polk County, FL. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 1.75%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

14.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Polk County, FL (102k out of 699k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 6 - 11.

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 2022, 22.2% of the children was living in poverty in Polk County, FL. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 5.3%.

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.

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Health

86.9% of the population of Polk County, FL has health coverage, with 38.2% on employee plans, 18.3% on Medicaid, 15% on Medicare, 13.7% on non-group plans, and 1.65% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Florida was $8,076 in 2014. This is a 5.05% increase from the previous year ($7,688).

Primary care physicians in Polk County, FL see 2157 patients per year on average, which represents a 3.6% increase from the previous year (2082 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2842 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 956 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.5% were men and 51.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,157 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Polk County, FL

Primary care physicians in Polk County, FL see an average of 2,157 patients per year. This represents a 3.6% increase from the previous year (2,082 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 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.9% under 18 years, 19.9% between 18 and 34 years, 36.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 19.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.5% were men and 51.5% were women.

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

Uninsured People

13.1%

Uninsured

38.2%

Employer Coverage

18.3%

Medicaid

15%

Medicare

13.7%

Non-Group

1.65%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Polk County, FL grew by 0.875% from 13% to 13.1%.

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 2022, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 58.1 in Polk County, FL.

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

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2022, 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 36.6% in Polk County, FL.

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

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