Polk County, GA

County

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2020 Population

42,251

0.818% 1-year growth

US Senator

Jon Ossoff

Democratic Party

US Senator

Raphael Warnock

Democratic Party

2020 Median Age

37.3

0.811% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

18.3%

0.524% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$46,846

4.35% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$121,900

10.1% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

18,682

2.58% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Polk County, GA had a population of 42.3k people with a median age of 37.3 and a median household income of $46,846. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Polk County, GA grew from 41,908 to 42,251, a 0.818% increase and its median household income grew from $44,891 to $46,846, a 4.35% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, GA are White (Non-Hispanic) (71.8%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (11.3%), White (Hispanic) (7.7%), Other (Hispanic) (3.81%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.14%).

None of the households in Polk County, GA 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.

95% of the residents in Polk County, GA are U.S. citizens.

In 2020, the median property value in Polk County, GA was $121,900, and the homeownership rate was 64.8%. Most people in Polk County, GA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 29.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Polk County, GA was 2 cars per household.

Polk County, GA borders Cherokee County, AL, Cleburne County, AL, Bartow County, GA, Floyd County, GA, Haralson County, GA, and Paulding County, GA.

United States Georgia Cedartown, GA

Diversity

Polk County, GA is home to a population of 42.3k people, from which 95% are citizens. As of 2020, 6.71% of Polk County, GA residents were born outside of the country (2.83k people).

In 2020, there were 6.38 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (30.3k people) in Polk County, GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 4.76k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.26k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, GA

White (Non-Hispanic)
30.3k ± 58
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
4.76k ± 389
White (Hispanic)
3.26k ± 519

13.2%

Hispanic Population

5.59k people

13.2% of the people in Polk County, GA are hispanic (5.59k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Polk County, GA as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

6.71%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

2.83k people

6.84%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

2.87k people

As of 2020, 6.71% of Polk County, GA residents (2.83k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Polk County, GA was 6.84%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 4.5

In 2020, the median age of all people in Polk County, GA was 37.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 37, were generally younger than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 38. But people in Polk County, GA are getting getting older. In 2019, the average age of all Polk County, GA residents was 37.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
234,298 ± 11,751 people
India
98,606 ± 7,673 people
Jamaica
44,462 ± 5,166 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 234,298 Georgia residents, followed by India with 98,606 and Jamaica with 44,462.

Citizenship

95%

2020 Citizenship

95.1%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 95% of Polk County, GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Polk County, GA was 95.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
813 ± 183
Gulf War (1990s)
398 ± 189
Korea
158 ± 74

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

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Georgia. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Georgia, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Georgia (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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Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Georgia. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

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

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Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Georgia across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Economy

Median household income in Polk County, GA is $46,846. In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Polk County, GA was Census Tract 106 with a value of $50,781, followed by Census Tract 101 and Census Tract 107, with respective values of $50,266 and $44,423.

Males in Georgia have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $51,276. The income inequality in Georgia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.476, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Polk County, GA employs 18.7k people. The largest industries in Polk County, GA are Manufacturing (4,784 people), Retail Trade (1,997 people), and Construction (1,629 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($64,375), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($52,813), and Educational Services ($47,197).

Wages

Median Household Income

$46,846

2020 value

± $4,848

4.35%

1 Year Growth

± 13.6%

Households in Polk County, GA have a median annual income of $46,846, which is less than the median annual income of $64,994 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $44,891 in 2019, which represents a 4.35% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Polk County, GA compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Sex in Common Jobs

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

$69,082

Average Male Salary in Georgia

± $1,257

$51,276

Average Female Salary in Georgia

± $897

In 2020, full-time male employees in Georgia made 1.35 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the sex-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Georgia by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

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

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Georgia

Asian
$68,689 ± $4,099
White
$60,077 ± $1,041
Two or More Races
$48,607 ± $3,907

In 2020 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Georgia workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.14 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Georgia.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Georgia by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Polk County, GA is from Georgia.

0.476

2020 Wage GINI in Georgia

0.477

2019 Wage GINI in Georgia

In 2020, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.476 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.302% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Georgia was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Georgia in comparison to the national average.

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

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 106
Census Tract 101
Census Tract 107

In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Polk County, GA was Census Tract 106 with a value of $50,781, followed by Census Tract 101 and Census Tract 107, with respective values of $50,266 and $44,423.

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

Poverty by Age and Sex

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

18.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Polk County, GA (7.66k out of 42k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 6 - 11.

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.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
4,641 ± 547
Hispanic
2,630 ± 393
Black
1,543 ± 416

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

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

18.7k

2020 Value

± 1,240

2.58%

1 Year growth

± 8.77%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Polk County, GA grew at a rate of 2.58%, from 18.2k employees to 18.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Polk County, GA, are Production Occupations (3,303 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,231 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,760 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Polk County, GA.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Polk County, GA, by number of employees, are Production Occupations (3,303 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,231 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,760 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, GA has an unusually high number of residents working as Production Occupations (3.17 times higher than expected), Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (2.16 times), and Material Moving Occupations (2.04 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Polk County, GA, by median earnings, are Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($74,618), Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations ($73,952), and Community & Social Service Occupations ($60,297).

Industries

Employment by Industries

18.7k

2020 Value

± 1,240

2.58%

1 Year growth

± 8.77%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Polk County, GA grew at a rate of 2.58%, from 18.2k employees to 18.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Polk County, GA, are Manufacturing (4,784 people), Retail Trade (1,997 people), and Construction (1,629 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Polk County, GA, though some of these residents may live in Polk County, GA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Polk County, GA, by number of employees, are Manufacturing (4,784 people), Retail Trade (1,997 people), and Construction (1,629 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, GA has an unusually high number of Utilities (3.37 times higher than expected), Manufacturing (2.56 times), and Administrative & Support & Waste Management Services (1.35 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Polk County, GA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($64,375), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($52,813), and Educational Services ($47,197).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

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

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $68.9B, followed by Mixed freight ($63.5B) and Electronics ($51.2B).

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

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Georgia.

$626B

2020 Value in Georgia

$1.3T

Projected 2050 Value in Georgia

108% growth

In 2020, total outbound Georgia trade was $626B. This is expected to increase 108% to $1.3T by 2050.

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

Interstate Trade

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

Most Common Trade Partners

Florida
$57.7B
Tennessee
$34B
North Carolina
$30.2B

In 2020, the top outbound Georgia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Florida with $57.7B, followed by Tennessee with $34B and North Carolina and $30.2B.

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

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Polk County, GA went to Donald J. Trump with 78.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (21%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.874%). The most partisan county was Brantley County, GA with 90.3% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing the state of Georgia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Georgia is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (78.1%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (21%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.874%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Polk County, GA went to Donald J. Trump with 78.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (21%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.874%).

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

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Georgia.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for Polk County, GA

78.1% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in Georgia

Brantley County, GA
90.3% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Glascock County, GA
89.6% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Banks County, GA
88.6% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2020 presidential election, the most partisan county in Georgia was Brantley County, GA with 90.3% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

The following map shows the counties in Georgia colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Georgia

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

Jon Ossoff

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021

Raphael Warnock

Senator from Georgia

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Elected to the seat to succeed Kelly Loeffler, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of Johnny Isakson.

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the senators currently representing Georgia.

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 Georgia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from Georgia

Georgia is currently represented by 14 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 Georgia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Polk County, GA was $121,900 in 2020, which is 0.53 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $110,700 to $121,900, a 10.1% increase. The homeownership rate in Polk County, GA is 64.8%, which is higher than the national average of 64.4%. People in Polk County, GA have an average commute time of 29.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Polk County, GA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$121,900

2020 Median

± $8,853

$110,700

2019 Median

± $7,270

In 2020, the median property value in Polk County, GA grew to to $121,900 from the previous year's value of $110,700.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Polk County, GA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Polk County, GA the largest share of households have a property value in the $100k - $125k range.

Household Income

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

$46,846

Median Household Income

± $4,848

15.4k

Number of Households

± 1,100

In 2020, the median household income of the 15.4k households in Polk County, GA grew to $46,846 from the previous year's value of $44,891.

The following chart displays the households in Polk County, GA 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.

Property Taxes

< $800

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Polk County, GA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Polk County, GA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

Rent vs Own

64.8%

2020 Homeownership

64.6%

2019 Homeownership

In 2020, 64.8% of the housing units in Polk County, GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 64.6%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 64.4%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Polk County, GA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

29.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Polk County, GA have a longer commute time (29.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 4.37% of the workforce in Polk County, GA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (82.5%)
Carpooled (10.4%)
Worked At Home (3.15%)

In 2020, 82.5% of workers in Polk County, GA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.4%) and those who worked at home (3.15%).

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.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Health

84.3% of the population of Polk County, GA has health coverage, with 44.6% on employee plans, 18.5% on Medicaid, 11.8% on Medicare, 7.95% on non-group plans, and 1.46% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Georgia was $6,587 in 2014. This is a 5.41% increase from the previous year ($6,249).

Primary care physicians in Polk County, GA see 3539 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.912% increase from the previous year (3507 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 3874 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1420 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Telfair County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (25.8%). Additionally, Candler County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (53.7%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

3,539 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Polk County, GA

Primary care physicians in Polk County, GA see an average of 3,539 patients per year. This represents a 0.912% increase from the previous year (3,507 patients).

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

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

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

$6,587

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Georgia

$4,406

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,199

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,429

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Georgia (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.41%, from $6,249 to $6,587.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

15.7%

Uninsured

44.6%

Employer Coverage

18.5%

Medicaid

11.8%

Medicare

7.95%

Non-Group

1.46%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Polk County, GA declined by 0.304% from 15.7% to 15.7%.

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