Polk County, TN

County

Add Comparison

Population

16,782

0.359% 1-year growth

US Senator

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Party

US Senator

Bill Hagerty

Republican Party

Median Age

45.3

Poverty Rate

16.4%

Median Household Income

$41,818

1.16% 1-year decline

Median Property Value

$113,800

2.61% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

6,859

1.43% 1-year growth

About

In 2018, Polk County, TN had a population of 16.8k people with a median age of 45.3 and a median household income of $41,818. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Polk County, TN grew from 16,722 to 16,782, a 0.359% increase and its median household income declined from $42,307 to $41,818, a -1.16% decrease.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, TN are White (Non-Hispanic) (95.1%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.14%), White (Hispanic) (1.23%), Other (Hispanic) (0.685%), and American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (0.268%). NaNk% of the people in Polk County, TN speak a non-English language, and 99.4% are U.S. citizens.

The median property value in Polk County, TN is $113,800, and the homeownership rate is 73.8%. Most people in Polk County, TN commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 27.5 minutes. The average car ownership in Polk County, TN is 3 cars per household.

Polk County, TN borders Fannin County, GA, Murray County, GA, Cherokee County, NC, McMinn County, TN, Monroe County, TN, and Bradley County, TN.

United States Tennessee Cleveland, TN

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

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

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

View Full Dashboard

Impact on Employment

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Tennessee (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.

View Full Dashboard

Community Mobility

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

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

View Full Dashboard

Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Polk County, TN went to Donald J. Trump with 78.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (19.2%), followed by Other (2.62%). The most partisan county was Wayne County, TN with 86% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the senators currently representing the state of Tennessee. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Tennessee is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (78.2%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (19.2%)
Democratic Party
Other (2.62%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Tennessee went to Donald J. Trump with 78.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (19.2%), followed by Other (2.62%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Tennessee for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

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

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for Polk County, TN

78.2% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in Tennessee

Wayne County, TN
86% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Scott County, TN
84.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Macon County, TN
83.5% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Tennessee was Wayne County, TN with 86% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

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

US Senators from Tennessee

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

Marsha Blackburn

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2019

Bill Hagerty

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the senators currently representing Tennessee.

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

US Representatives from Tennessee

Tennessee is currently represented by 9 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 Tennessee have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Polk County, TN is home to a population of 16.8k people, from which 99.4% are citizens. As of 2018, 1.09% of Polk County, TN residents were born outside of the country (183 people).

In 2018, there were 44.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (16k people) in Polk County, TN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 359 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 207 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, TN

White (Non-Hispanic)
16k ± 54
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
359 ± 42.5
White (Hispanic)
207 ± 74

Hispanic Population

335 people

2% of the people in Polk County, TN are hispanic (335 people).

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

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

1.09%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

183 people

1.2%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

201 people

As of 2018, 1.09% of Polk County, TN residents (183 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Polk County, TN was 1.2%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.2

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 8.1

In 2018, the median age of all people in Polk County, TN was 45.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 45, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 47. But people in Polk County, TN are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Polk County, TN residents was 45.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
92,263 ± 7,405 people
India
21,162 ± 3,566 people
Guatemala
12,669 ± 2,761 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Tennessee was Mexico, the natal country of 92,263 Tennessee residents, followed by India with 21,162 and Guatemala with 12,669.

Citizenship

99.4%

2018 Citizenship

99.2%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 99.4% of Polk County, TN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Polk County, TN was 99.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
470 ± 107
Gulf War (2001-)
161 ± 84
Gulf War (1990s)
152 ± 82

Polk County, TN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.92 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Polk County, TN is $41,818. In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Polk County, TN was Census Tract 9502.01 with a value of $49,107, followed by Census Tract 9503 and Census Tract 9502.02, with respective values of $45,208 and $43,091.

Males in Tennessee have an average income that is 1.37 times higher than the average income of females, which is $42,201. The income inequality in Tennessee (measured using the Gini index) is 0.466, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Polk County, TN employs 6.86k people. The largest industries in Polk County, TN are Manufacturing (1,454 people), Retail Trade (813 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (787 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($62,788), Information ($61,429), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation ($47,694).

Wages

Median Household Income

$41,818

2018 value

± $2,889

-1.16%

1 Year Growth

± 9.06%

Households in Polk County, TN have a median annual income of $41,818, 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 $42,307 in 2017, which represents a -1.16% annual growth.

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

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

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

$57,961

Average Male Salary in Tennessee

± $1,374

$42,201

Average Female Salary in Tennessee

± $943

In 2017, full-time male employees in Tennessee made 1.37 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Tennessee 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 Tennessee.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Tennessee

Asian
$53,011 ± $6,619
White
$46,471 ± $904
American Indian
$40,237 ± $11,516

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Tennessee 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 Tennessee.

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

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Polk County, TN is from Tennessee.

0.466

2017 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.465

2016 Wage GINI in Tennessee

In 2017, the income inequality in Tennessee was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.325% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Tennessee was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Tennessee in comparison to the national average.

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

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9502.01
Census Tract 9503
Census Tract 9502.02

In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Polk County, TN was Census Tract 9502.01 with a value of $49,107, followed by Census Tract 9503 and Census Tract 9502.02, with respective values of $45,208 and $43,091.

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

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 35 - 44

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

16.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Polk County, TN (2.71k out of 16.5k 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 35 - 44, followed by Males 45 - 54 and then Females 55 - 64.

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
2,497 ± 275
Two Or More
110 ± 94
Hispanic
83 ± 96

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Polk County, TN is White, followed by Two Or More and Hispanic.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

6.86k

2018 Value

± 550

1.43%

1 Year growth

± 10.8%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Polk County, TN grew at a rate of 1.43%, from 6.76k employees to 6.86k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Polk County, TN, are Production Occupations (935 people), Sales & Related Occupations (642 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (626 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Polk County, TN.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Polk County, TN, by number of employees, are Production Occupations (935 people), Sales & Related Occupations (642 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (626 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, TN has an unusually high number of residents working as Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (2.69 times higher than expected), Production Occupations (2.37 times), and Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (2.07 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Polk County, TN, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($73,275), Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($65,000), and Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations ($54,833).

Industries

Employment by Industries

6.86k

2018 Value

± 550

1.43%

1 Year growth

± 10.8%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Polk County, TN grew at a rate of 1.43%, from 6.76k employees to 6.86k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Polk County, TN, are Manufacturing (1,454 people), Retail Trade (813 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (787 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Polk County, TN, though some of these residents may live in Polk County, TN 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, TN, by number of employees, are Manufacturing (1,454 people), Retail Trade (813 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (787 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, TN has an unusually high number of Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (2.72 times higher than expected), Manufacturing (2.1 times), and Utilities (1.91 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Polk County, TN, by median earnings, are Utilities ($62,788), Information ($61,429), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation ($47,694).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

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

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2015, the top outbound Tennessee product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $33.7B, followed by Motorized vehicles ($31.1B) and Mixed freight ($26.9B).

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

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Tennessee.

$333B

2015 Value in Tennessee

$525B

Projected 2045 Value in Tennessee

57.7% growth

In 2015, total outbound Tennessee trade was $333B. This is expected to increase 57.7% to $525B by 2045.

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

Interstate Trade

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

Most Common Trade Partners

Kentucky
$27.6B
Texas
$17.3B
Georgia
$16.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Tennessee domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Kentucky with $27.6B, followed by Texas with $17.3B and Georgia and $16.7B.

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

Housing & Living

The median property value in Polk County, TN was $113,800 in 2018, which is 0.495 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $110,900 to $113,800, a 2.61% increase. The homeownership rate in Polk County, TN is 73.8%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Polk County, TN have an average commute time of 27.5 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Polk County, TN is higher than the national average, with an average of 3 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$113,800

2018 Median

± $7,969

$110,900

2017 Median

± $9,721

In 2018, the median property value in Polk County, TN grew to to $113,800 from the previous year's value of $110,900.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Polk County, TN 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, TN the largest share of households have a property value in the N/A range.

Household Income

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

$41,818

Median Household Income

± $2,889

7.1k

Number of Households

± 508

In 2018, the median household income of the 7.1k households in Polk County, TN declined from $41,818 from the previous year's value of $42,307.

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

Rent vs Own

73.8%

2018 Homeownership

76.2%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 73.8% of the housing units in Polk County, TN were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 76.2%.

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

Commute Time

27.5 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Polk County, TN have a longer commute time (27.5 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 2.66% of the workforce in Polk County, TN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
85.4%
Carpooled
9.78%
Worked At Home
2.78%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Polk County, TN was Drove Alone (85.4%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.78%) and those who Worked At Home (2.78%).

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

3 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Polk County, TN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Polk County, TN have 3 cars, followed by 2 cars.

Health

88.9% of the population of Polk County, TN has health coverage, with 40.3% on employee plans, 18% on Medicaid, 17.3% on Medicare, 10.7% on non-group plans, and 2.54% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Tennessee was $7,372 in 2014. This is a 3.74% increase from the previous year ($7,106).

Primary care physicians in Polk County, TN see 1864 patients per year on average, which represents a 10.9% decrease from the previous year (2091 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2396 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 16772 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Dyer County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (17.5%). Additionally, Hardeman County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (39.7%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,864 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Polk County, TN

Primary care physicians in Polk County, TN see an average of 1,864 patients per year. This represents a 10.9% decrease from the previous year (2,091 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Polk County, TN 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 Tennessee.

$7,372

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Tennessee

$4,680

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,677

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,371

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Tennessee (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 3.74%, from $7,106 to $7,372.

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

Health Care Coverage

11.1%

Uninsured

40.3%

Employer Coverage

18%

Medicaid

17.3%

Medicare

10.7%

Non-Group

2.54%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Polk County, TN grew by 20.7% from 9.2% to 11.1%.

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