Polk County, Tennessee Population 2024

18,288

Polk County, Tennessee's estimated 2024 population is 18,288 with a growth rate of 1.41% in the past year according to the most recent United States census data. Polk County, Tennessee is the 71st largest county in Tennessee. The 2010 population was 16,813 and has seen a growth of 8.77% since that time.

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

36 Rows

Year
Population
Growth
Change
202919,5632551.32%
202819,3082551.34%
202719,0532551.36%
202618,7982551.38%
202518,5432551.39%
202418,2882551.41%
202318,0332551.43%
202217,778640.36%
202117,7141480.84%
202017,5668024.78%
201916,764-116-0.69%
201816,8801110.66%
201716,769-18-0.11%
201616,78790.05%
201516,778880.53%
201416,690540.32%
201316,636100.06%
201216,626-146-0.87%
201116,772-41-0.24%
201016,81300%
199013,643410.3%
198013,6021,93316.57%
197011,669-491-4.04%
196012,160-1,914-13.6%
195014,074-1,399-9.04%
194015,473-213-1.36%
193015,6861,44310.13%
192014,2431270.9%
191014,1162,75924.29%
190011,3572,99635.83%
18908,3611,09215.02%
18807,269-100-1.36%
18707,369-1,357-15.55%
18608,7262,38837.68%
18506,3382,76877.54%
18403,570-15,993-81.75%
2024 Growth Rate
1.41% (255)
County Website
Polk County
County Seat
Benton
2020 Population
17,566
Area
435 mi²
Density
42 people/mi²
Growth Since 2020
4.11% (722)
Founded
November 28, 1839

Population by Race

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White16,16491.74%
Two or more races1,1886.74%
Other race1080.61%
Black or African American720.41%
Native American510.29%
Asian370.21%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%

White

Two or more races

Other race

Black or African American

Native American

Asian

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Polk County, Tennessee Population by Race

Polk County, Tennessee Population Pyramid 2024

Polk County, Tennessee Median Age

46.3

Total

45.9

Male

46.5

Female

Polk County, Tennessee Adults

There are 14,179 adults, (3,684 of whom are seniors) in Polk County, Tennessee.

Polk County, Tennessee Age Dependency

67.9

Age Dependency Ratio

35.1

Old Age Dependency Ratio

32.8

Child Dependency Ratio

Polk County, Tennessee Sex Ratio

Female8,78449.85%
Male8,83650.15%

Polk County, Tennessee Population by Age

Polk County, Tennessee Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All7,1012.4578.921.1
Married3,7552.9289.710.3
Non Family2,2041.2263.636.4
Female7773.4164.435.6
Male3652.9190.79.3

2.93

Average Family Size

2.45

Average Household Size

78.9%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Polk County, Tennessee Households and Families

Male

Female

Education Attained
Count
Percentage
9th to 12th Grade1,0518.15%
Associates Degree1,53211.88%
Bachelors Degree1,0628.24%
Graduate Degree6555.08%
High School Graduate4,89837.99%
Less Than 9th Grade9237.16%
Some College2,77221.5%

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Polk County, Tennessee Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Polk County, Tennessee Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Race
Total
High School
Bachelors
White11,88210,0801,602
2+ Races71262328
Hispanic202975
Other Race766824
Black66610
Native American515151
Asian323212

The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among native american people with a rate of 100%.

Polk County, Tennessee Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

Name
Average
Male
Female
Bachelors Degree$47,917$0$46,762
Graduate Degree$59,135$78,958$55,766
High School Graduate$37,198$46,122$17,853
Less Than 9th Grade$33,941$43,569$15,500
Overall$40,382$47,065$28,900
Some College$39,113$47,716$28,862

$40,382

Average Earnings

$47,065

Average Male

$28,900

Average Female

Polk County, Tennessee Earnings by Educational Attainment

Polk County, Tennessee Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Polk County, Tennessee Language

97.41% of Polk County, Tennessee residents speak only English, while 2.59% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 1.53% of the population.

Polk County, Tennessee Language

Polk County, Tennessee Poverty by Race

rate

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White15,6642,00012.77%
Multiple1,17817414.77%
Hispanic3879524.55%
Other1081816.67%
Asian37821.62%
Black35514.29%

12.87%

Overall Poverty Rate

10.23%

Male Poverty Rate

15.47%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Polk County, Tennessee

The race most likely to be in poverty in Polk County, Tennessee is Hispanic, with 24.55% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Polk County, Tennessee is White, with 12.77% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.42%. Among those working part-time, it was 14%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.95%.

Polk County, Tennessee Poverty

rate

Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade28.08%
Some College11.74%
High School9.72%
Bachelors or Greater2.33%

Polk County, Tennessee Poverty Rate by Education

rate

Rate
Poverty
Male Unemployed32.81%
Female Unemployed31.91%
Female Employed8.64%
Male Employed2.41%

Polk County, Tennessee Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Polk County, Tennessee Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Name
Median
Mean
Families$69,871$89,613
Households$53,775$73,916
Married Families$75,605$-999,999,999
Non Families$24,634$37,352

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Polk County, Tennessee Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

55.7%

Overall Marriage Rate

56.9%

Male Marriage Rate

54.6%

Female Marriage Rate

Polk County, Tennessee Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Polk County, Tennessee Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

Polk County, Tennessee Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Polk County, Tennessee Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

955

Number of Veterans

932

Male Veterans

23

Female Veterans

War
Veterans
Vietnam394
Second Gulf War217
First Gulf War189
Korea30
World War II0

Polk County, Tennessee Veterans by War

count

Age Group
Veterans
65 to 74340
35 to 54210
75+181
55 to 64170
18 to 3454

Polk County, Tennessee Veterans by Age

count

Name
Veterans
% of Total
White9350.07097851666287103
2+ Races160.02077922077922078
Black40.05555555555555555

Polk County, Tennessee Veterans by Race

Polk County, Tennessee Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

8.95%

Veteran Poverty Rate

42.6%

Veteran Disability Rate

Polk County, Tennessee Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

54.6%

Labor Force Participation

50.4%

Employment Rate

7.8%

Unemployment Rate

Polk County, Tennessee Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Polk County, Tennessee Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Polk County, Tennessee Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

60.23%

Born in Polk County, Tennessee

98.93%

Native Born

1.07%

Foreign Born

0.24%

Non Citizen

0.82%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

98.93% of Polk County, Tennessee residents were born in the United States, with 60.23% having been born in Tennessee. 0.24% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Polk County, Tennessee Place of Birth

Sources