Cost of Living in Polk County, Georgia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Polk County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Polk County ranks #1,591 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 49%)
Sourced county brief
Official GRAPI in Polk County Estimated at 32.2 Percent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Polk County is 32.2%. This official ACS B25071 estimate is 3.6 percentage points higher than the Georgia unweighted county mean for GRAPI, which is 28.6%. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $918 per month, below the state unweighted county mean of $965. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner costs are $786, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $905. The median value of owner-occupied housing units in Polk County is $187,600, while the Georgia unweighted county mean is $197,933. The median renter-household income is $34,918, which contrasts with the median household income for all residents of $58,515. These figures represent snapshots from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Polk County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.2% of renter household income in Polk County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $918 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $786. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,720 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Georgia unweighted mean of county median rents is $965 per month. Polk County's $918 median is 4.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Polk County
Rent Burden
18.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,365
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.1%
of gross income
The median home in Polk County may be a stretch
Median home value is $187,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,498 vs. your max of $1,365.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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