Polk County, GA

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Population

41,444

0.439% growth

Median Age

37.1


Median Household Income

$40,652

3.29% growth

Poverty Rate

19%


Number of Employees

17,553

5.27% growth

Median Property Value

$105,600

7.76% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Polk County, GA had a population of 41.4k people with a median age of 37.1 and a median household income of $40,652. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Polk County, GA grew from 41,263 to 41,444, a 0.439% increase and its median household income grew from $39,356 to $40,652, a 3.29% increase.

The population of Polk County, GA is 72% White Alone, 13% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.7% Black or African American Alone. N/A% of the people in Polk County, GA speak a non-English language, and 95.2% are U.S. citizens.

The median property value in Polk County, GA is $105,600, and the homeownership rate is 64.5%. Most people in Polk County, GA commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 25.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Polk County, GA is 2 cars per household.

Photo by Tony Crescibene

United StatesGeorgiaCedartown, GA

Economy

The economy of Polk County, GA employs 17.6k people. The largest industries in Polk County, GA are Manufacturing (4,347 people), Retail Trade (2,107 people), and Construction (1,826 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($50,893), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($44,583), and Educational Services ($37,106).

Median household income in Polk County, GA is $40,652. Males in Polk County, GA have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $46,261. The income inequality in Polk County, GA (measured using the Gini index) is 0.478, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$40,652

2017 value

± $2,098

3.29%

1 Year Growth

± 8.59%

Households in Polk County, GA have a median annual income of $40,652, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $39,356 in 2016, which represents a 3.29% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Polk County, GA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

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

$62,744

Average Male Salary

± $1,190

$46,261

Average Female Salary

± $830

In 2017, full-time male employees in Georgia made 1.36 times more than female employees.

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

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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

  1. Asian

    $58,486 ± $3,787

  2. White

    $53,819 ± $950

  3. Two or More Races

    $43,415 ± $4,855

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Georgia workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.09 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

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

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Wage Distribution

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

0.478

2017 Wage GINI

0.477

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in Georgia was 0.478 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.233% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2017 the GINI for Georgia was lower than than the national average of 0.479. 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.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 102

  2. Census Tract 101

  3. Census Tract 106

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Polk County, GA was Census Tract 102 with a value of $51,071, followed by Census Tract 101 and Census Tract 106, with respective values of $47,946 and $40,875.

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

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

19% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Polk County, GA (7.78k out of 41k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 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.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    4,949 ± 536

  2. Black

    1,734 ± 370

  3. Hispanic

    1,250 ± 307

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

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.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

17.6k

2017 Value

± 1,084

5.27%

1 Year growth

± 8.33%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Polk County, GA grew at a rate of 5.27%, from 16.7k employees to 17.6k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Polk County, GA, are Production Occupations (3,376 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,090 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,912 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Polk County, GA.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Polk County, GA, by number of employees, are Production Occupations (3,376 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,090 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,912 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, GA has an unusually high number of residents working as Production Occupations (3.32 times higher than expected), Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (1.75 times), and Material Moving Occupations (1.73 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Polk County, GA, by median earnings, are Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($57,765), Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations ($50,844), and Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($45,357).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

17.6k

2017 Value

± 1,084

5.27%

1 Year growth

± 8.33%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Polk County, GA grew at a rate of 5.27%, from 16.7k employees to 17.6k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Polk County, GA, are Manufacturing (4,347 people), Retail Trade (2,107 people), and Construction (1,826 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.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Polk County, GA, by number of employees, are Manufacturing (4,347 people), Retail Trade (2,107 people), and Construction (1,826 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, GA has an unusually high number of Utilities (2.74 times higher than expected), Manufacturing (2.45 times), and Construction (1.66 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Polk County, GA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($50,893), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($44,583), and Educational Services ($37,106).

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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

  1. Mixed freight

    $51.8B

  2. Motorized vehicles

    $36.9B

  3. Electronics

    $35.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Georgia product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $51.8B, followed by Motorized vehicles ($36.9B) and Electronics ($35.7B).

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

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Georgia state.

$465B

2020 Value

$628B

Projected 2045 Value

35.1% growth

In 2020, total outbound Georgia trade was $465B. This is expected to increase 35.1% to $628B by 2045.

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

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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

  1. Florida

    $42.1B

  2. South Carolina

    $27.8B

  3. North Carolina

    $22.2B

In 2015, the top outbound Georgia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Florida with $42.1B, followed by South Carolina with $27.8B and North Carolina and $22.2B.

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

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Health

84% of the population of Polk County, GA has health coverage, with 42.3% on employee plans, 20.5% on Medicaid, 11.5% on Medicare, 8.36% on non-group plans, and 1.32% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Polk County, GA 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 3460 patients per year on average, which represents a 9.36% increase from the previous year (3164 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 4642 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1607 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Quitman County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (18.2%). Additionally, Rockdale County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (38.5%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

3,460 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Polk County, GA see an average of 3,460 patients per year. This represents a 9.36% increase from the previous year (3,164 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 neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. 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.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. 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.

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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 

$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.

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Health Care Coverage

16%

Uninsured

42.3%

Employer Coverage

20.5%

Medicaid

11.5%

Medicare

8.36%

Non-Group

1.32%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Polk County, GA declined by 2.6% from 16.5% to 16%.

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.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Quitman County

    18.2% prevalence

  2. Taliaferro County

    17.3% prevalence

  3. Clay County

    16.9% prevalence

Quitman County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Georgia, at 18.2%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Georgia by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Polk County, GA is home to a population of 41.4k people, from which 95.2% are citizens. As of 2017, 6.94% of Polk County, GA residents were born outside of the country (2.88k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Polk County, GA is composed of 29.8k White Alone residents (72%), 5.4k Hispanic or Latino residents (13%), 5.25k Black or African American Alone residents (12.7%), 615 Two or More Races residents (1.48%), 271 Asian Alone residents (0.654%), 62 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.15%), 13 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.0314%), and 0 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0%).

Age

Age by Nativity

37

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.9

37

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 3.3

In 2017, the median age of all people in Polk County, GA was 37.1. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 37, were generally older than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 37. But people in Polk County, GA are getting getting younger. In 2016, the average age of all Polk County, GA residents was 37.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

6.94%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

2.88k people

7.05%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

2.91k people

As of 2017, 6.94% of Polk County, GA residents (2.88k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Polk County, GA was 7.05%, 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.

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Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    264,376 ± 12,459 people

  2. India

    85,239 ± 7,138 people

  3. Korea

    45,011 ± 5,197 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Georgia was Mexico, the natal country of 264,376 Georgia residents, followed by India with 85,239 and Korea with 45,011.

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Citizenship

95.2%

2017 Citizenship

95.1%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 95.2% of Polk County, GA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Polk County, GA was 95.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    29.8k ± 99

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    5.4k ± 687

  3. Black or African American Alone

    5.25k ± 301

In 2017, there were 5.52 times more White Alone residents (29.8k people) in Polk County, GA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 5.4k Hispanic or Latino and 5.25k Black or African American Alone residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Polk County, GA as a share of the total population.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    1,137 ± 199

  2. Gulf War (1990s)

    459 ± 143

  3. Korea

    200 ± 79

Polk County, GA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.48 times greater than any other conflict.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Polk County, GA was $105,600 in 2017, which is 0.46 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $98,000 to $105,600, a 7.76% increase. The homeownership rate in Polk County, GA is 64.5%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Polk County, GA have an average commute time of 25.4 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. 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

$105,600

2017 Median

± $8,787

$98,000

2016 Median

± $4,851

In 2017, the median property value in Polk County, GA grew to to $105,600 from the previous year's value of $98,000.

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 $125k - $150k range.

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Household Income

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

$40,652

Median Household Income

± $2,098

14.9k

Number of Households

± 912

In 2017, the median household income of the 14.9k households in Polk County, GA grew to $40,652 from the previous year's value of $39,356.

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.

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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.

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Rent vs Own

64.5%

2017 Homeownership

67.2%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 64.5% of the housing units in Polk County, GA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 67.2%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Polk County, GA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Commute Time

25.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Polk County, GA have a longer commute time (25.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 3.44% 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.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    86.8%

  2. Carpooled

    7.3%

  3. Worked At Home

    3.15%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Polk County, GA was Drove Alone (86.8%), followed by those who Carpooled (7.3%) 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.

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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 3 cars.

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