Polk County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Polk County, Georgia had an estimated 44,610 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 42,848, across 310 square miles. County output reached $1.74 bn in 2024, 670 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 24 7(a) approvals worth $14.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Polk County
How many people live in Polk County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,785
- Households15,901
- Average household size2.75
- Median household income$58,515
- Median age38.0
- Median gross rent$918 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$187,600
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher15.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over29,295
- Population under 1810,991
- Share under 1825.1 percent
- Population 65 and over6,736
- Share 65 and over15.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,058
- Civilian labor force19,877
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.6 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties47th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1124th of 3,222
Polk County is the 47th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.1 percent against 15.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Polk County
Is Polk County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202444,610
- Census 2020 base population42,848
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.11 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024247
- Births, 2024634
- Deaths, 2024592
- Natural change, 202442
- Net domestic migration, 2024110
- Net international migration, 202493
- Total net migration, 2024203
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,505
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents669th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.11 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Polk County
Where are people moving to Polk County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,137
- People arriving, from those returns2,246
- Tax returns filed by households leaving994
- Net household movement143
- Adjusted gross income arriving$56.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$13.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$49,375
- Average income of a leaving household$43,156
- Largest single originPaulding County (245 households)
- Largest single destinationFloyd County (231 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paulding County | 245 | 518 | $13.6 m |
| Floyd County | 167 | 322 | $7.1 m |
| Cobb County | 133 | 243 | $7.8 m |
| Bartow County | 122 | 266 | $5.9 m |
| Haralson County | 57 | 138 | $2.6 m |
| Carroll County | 41 | 75 | $1.7 m |
| Douglas County | 34 | 70 | $1.3 m |
| Cherokee County | 30 | 49 | $2.9 m |
Households arriving report $6,219 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Paulding County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Polk County
What is the Polk County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.74 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.66 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years34.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes57th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1399th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$39,747
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 34.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Polk County
Employment by industry in Polk County
- Covered employment, annual average11,149
- Establishments reporting817
- Average annual pay$48,735
- Average weekly wage$937
- Manufacturing, employment2,765
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$60,251
- Retail trade, employment1,960
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,870
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,234
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,180
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,026
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$54,730
- Construction, employment468
- Other services, except public administration, employment333
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,765 | 43 | $60,251 |
| Retail trade | 1,960 | 158 | $34,870 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,234 | 86 | $20,180 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,026 | 54 | $54,730 |
| Construction | 468 | 84 | $73,150 |
| Other services, except public administration | 333 | 56 | $39,313 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 297 | 70 | $57,444 |
| Finance and insurance | 165 | 41 | $59,376 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,765 jobs, 24.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Polk County
How many businesses are in Polk County?
- Establishments, all industries670
- Employment at those establishments10,640
- Annual payroll$479.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents15.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Polk County
Building permits in Polk County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024147
- Declared construction value permitted$38.7 m
- Single family units authorized130
- Multifamily units authorized17
- Multifamily share of units11.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$262,997
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.2
Single-family homes are 88.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Polk County
SBA loans in Polk County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded24
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$14.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$617,233
- Median 7(a) approval$563,100
- 10th percentile approval$26,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,466,260
- Largest single approval$2,967,100
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)134
- Jobs per approval5.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active17
- Distinct industries receiving approvals17
- Median 7(a) term123 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer45.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter12
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals29.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (3)
- Most active lenderNewtek Bank, National Association (3)
- 504 approvals recorded10
- 504 gross approval dollars$7.6 m
- Average 504 approval$759,500
- Median 504 approval$666,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval7.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.4
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$22.4 m
The average approval of $617,233 sits close to the median of $563,100, so lending here is fairly evenly sized rather than driven by a few large deals. 45.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Polk County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Polk County
Do SBA loans in Polk County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure17
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Polk County
SBA lending by place in Polk County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Rockmart, approvals14
- Cedartown, approvals10
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Rockmart | 14 | $5,579,300 |
| Cedartown | 10 | $9,234,300 |
Rockmart accounts for 14 approvals against 10 in Cedartown. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Polk County
How large is Polk County?
- Land area310 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties96th of 159
- Width, east to west28.6 mi
- Height, north to south13.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land141
- Establishments per square mile2.16
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Polk County
Flood risk in Polk County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Polk County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130256
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Polk County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Polk County (community 130256), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Polk County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Polk County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Polk County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,785
- Households15,901
- Average household size2.75
- Median household income$58,515
- Median age38.0
Common questions
Polk County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Polk County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 44,610 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 43,785, in 15,901 households, ranking 47th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Polk County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.11 percent since the 2020 census base of 42,848, to 44,610 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 634 births against 592 deaths, with net migration of 203. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Polk County?
$58,515. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $187,600, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $918 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Polk County?
670 establishments, employing 10,640 people with an annual payroll of $479.4 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Polk County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,765 jobs, 24.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 11,149 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,735, or $937 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Polk County?
24 7(a) approvals totaling $14.8 m since FY2020, across 17 lenders, with a median approval of $563,100, plus 10 504 approvals worth $7.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Polk County?
147 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $38.7 m. Multifamily was 11.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Polk County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Polk County come from?
The largest single origin is Paulding County, with 245 households. Arriving households report an average income of $49,375 against $43,156 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Polk County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Polk County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Polk County
Cities and places in Polk.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Polk County. All 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedartown | city | 10,227 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Rockmart | city | 5,204 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Aragon | city | 2,536 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Braswell | town | 400 | None recorded | 31.3 percent here, 68.7 percent Paulding County |
| Taylorsville | town | 335 | None recorded | 30.5 percent here, 69.5 percent Bartow County |