Polk County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Polk County, Texas had an estimated 54,258 residents on July 1, 2024, up 8.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 50,118, across 1,057 square miles. County output reached $1.87 bn in 2024, 859 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 28 7(a) approvals worth $46.6 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 2020-202452,800
- Households19,517
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$62,259
- Median age44.0
- Median gross rent$987 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$184,800
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over38,342
- Population under 1810,727
- Share under 1820.3 percent
- Population 65 and over10,101
- Share 65 and over19.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6431,972
- Civilian labor force21,081
- Unemployment rate8.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over50.1 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties66th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included979th of 3,222
Polk County is the 66th largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.3 percent against 19.1 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, 202454,258
- Census 2020 base population50,118
- Population change since the 2020 census base8.26 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024112
- Births, 2024523
- Deaths, 2024777
- Natural change, 2024-254
- Net domestic migration, 2024307
- Net international migration, 202446
- Total net migration, 2024353
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,896
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents228th of 3,144
The county has grown 8.26 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
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 arriving3,376
- People arriving, from those returns6,662
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,760
- Net household movement616
- Adjusted gross income arriving$305.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$92.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$90,439
- Average income of a leaving household$77,171
- Largest single originHarris County (422 households)
- Largest single destinationHarris County (189 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 422 | 823 | $30.9 m |
| Montgomery County | 237 | 471 | $19.2 m |
| San Jacinto County | 93 | 191 | $4.1 m |
| Angelina County | 65 | 147 | $2.5 m |
| Liberty County | 63 | 132 | $3.9 m |
| Tarrant County | 53 | 107 | $4.9 m |
| Travis County | 44 | 67 | $5.0 m |
| Brazoria County | 42 | 73 | $3.4 m |
Households arriving report $13,268 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 Harris 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$1.87 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.80 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.8 percent
- GDP change over five years39.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes112th of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1343rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$35,348
Output grew 3.8 percent in the latest year and 39.5 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 average12,820
- Establishments reporting958
- Average annual pay$50,852
- Average weekly wage$978
- Retail trade, employment1,716
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,260
- Manufacturing, employment1,588
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$69,895
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,507
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,310
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,505
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$48,190
- Construction, employment679
- Real estate and rental and leasing, employment519
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,716 | 132 | $36,260 |
| Manufacturing | 1,588 | 28 | $69,895 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,507 | 74 | $17,310 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,505 | 99 | $48,190 |
| Construction | 679 | 87 | $69,214 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 519 | 35 | $48,940 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 460 | 43 | $43,966 |
| Finance and insurance | 412 | 50 | $64,478 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,716 jobs, 13.4 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 industries859
- Employment at those establishments9,640
- Annual payroll$461.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents16.3
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, 2024755
- Declared construction value permitted$217.8 m
- Single family units authorized751
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units0.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$288,476
- Units authorized per 1,000 households38.7
Single-family homes are 99.5 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 recorded28
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$46.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,662,507
- Median 7(a) approval$1,325,000
- 10th percentile approval$51,500
- 90th percentile approval$3,587,900
- Largest single approval$4,270,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)278
- Jobs per approval9.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals13
- Median 7(a) term208 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer46.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms13
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter12
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals42.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (7)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$680,000
- Average 504 approval$680,000
- Median 504 approval$680,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval25.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved36.8
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$47.2 m
The average approval of $1,662,507 sits well above the median of $1,325,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 46.4 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 recorded7
- Paid in full6
- Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure14
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 7 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 lending4
- Livingston, approvals22
- Onalaska, approvals3
- Goodrich, approvals2
- Richmond, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Livingston | 22 | $38,470,000 |
| Onalaska | 3 | $3,914,200 |
| Goodrich | 2 | $3,043,000 |
| Richmond | 1 | $1,123,000 |
Livingston accounts for 22 approvals against 3 in Onalaska. 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 area1,057 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties58th of 254
- Width, east to west39.4 mi
- Height, north to south45.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land50
- Establishments per square mile0.81
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 480526
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate83.3 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 480526), 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. 83.3 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 2020-202452,800
- Households19,517
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$62,259
- Median age44.0
Common questions
Polk County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Polk County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 54,258 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 52,800, in 19,517 households, ranking 66th of 254 Texas 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 8.26 percent since the 2020 census base of 50,118, to 54,258 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 523 births against 777 deaths, with net migration of 353. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Polk County?
$62,259. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $184,800, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $987 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Polk County?
859 establishments, employing 9,640 people with an annual payroll of $461.8 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?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,716 jobs, 13.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,820 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,852, or $978 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?
28 7(a) approvals totaling $46.6 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $1,325,000, plus 1 504 approvals worth $680,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Polk County?
755 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $217.8 m. Multifamily was 0.5 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 Harris County, with 422 households. Arriving households report an average income of $90,439 against $77,171 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.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Polk County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Livingston | CDP | 8,199 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Livingston | town | 5,718 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Onalaska | city | 3,210 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Corrigan | town | 1,784 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Indian Springs | CDP | 938 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pleasant Hill | CDP | 830 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Big Thicket Lake Estates | CDP | 596 | None recorded | 41.2 percent here, 58.8 percent Liberty County |
| Cedar Point | CDP | 328 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Goodrich | city | 323 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Seven Oaks | city | 118 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 28 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Polk County, the largest being Richmond (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby