Cost of Living in Polk County, North Carolina
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 #2,152 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 32%)
Sourced county brief
Polk County Median Home Value Reaches 315,000 Dollars
The median home value in Polk County is $315,000, which is $79,688 above the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $235,312. According to ACS 5-Year Estimates, the median gross rent in the county is $1,178 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $977. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 31.1%, representing a 2.2 percentage point difference from the state unweighted county mean of 28.9%. For owners, median selected monthly owner costs were estimated at $867, which is lower than the state unweighted county mean of $927. The median renter-household income in Polk County is $36,681. All rent-to-income figures cited are the official GRAPI estimates from table B25071. 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 31.1% 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 $1,178 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $867. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $47,120 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 North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Polk County's $1,178 median is 20.6% above 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
20.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,581
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.4%
of gross income
The median home in Polk County may be a stretch
Median home value is $315,000. Estimated monthly cost: $2,515 vs. your max of $1,581.
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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