The Town FilesPolk County, North Carolina
19,891 people. The median home is worth $315,000 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $67,758.
Towns in Polk County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tryon | 1,562 | $306,900 | $57,721 | 58.4 |
| Columbus | 1,060 | $265,700 | $60,169 | 54.4 |
| Saluda | 631 | $372,400 | $52,137 | 65.4 |
People and housing
| Polk County | Typical North Carolina town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $315,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,178 | $969 |
| Median household income | $67,758 | $60,458 |
| Median age | 54.9 | 41.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 14.3% |
Jobs and pay
5,441 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,331 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 386 storm events in Polk County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Polk County has been included in 23 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 22, 2025 | Fire | FM-5574: Black Cove Fire Complex |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).