Cost of Living in Polk County, Tennessee
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 #158 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 5%)
Sourced county brief
Polk County Official GRAPI Recorded at 29.7 Percent
The official rentBurdenGrapiPct in Polk County was 29.7% according to the latest ACS 5-year estimates. This metric, representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (ACS B25071), is 2.8 percentage points higher than the Tennessee unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent for the county was $676 per month, which is $217 below the state unweighted county mean of $893. Renter households in Polk County had a median income of $26,635. For owner-occupied units, the median home value was $169,900, while the Tennessee unweighted county mean was $223,385. Selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were estimated at $548, falling $240 below the Tennessee unweighted county mean of $788. The median income for all households in the county was $62,522. These data points provide a descriptive view of local housing costs without external comparisons. 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 29.7% of renter household income in Polk County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $676 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $548. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $27,040 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 Tennessee unweighted mean of county median rents is $893 per month. Polk County's $676 median is 24.3% 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
13.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,459
per month
Owner Cost Burden
10.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Polk County
Median home value is $169,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,356 vs. your max of $1,459.
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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