The Town FilesPolkton, North Carolina
Town in Anson County · population 2,250 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,100
- Household income
- $47,059
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 36.3
Polkton is a town of 2,250 people in Anson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $130,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 81% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 78% of North Carolina towns.
How Polkton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Polkton is worth $130,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $47,059, which is more affordable than 85% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,009 a month. 46.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Polkton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,009 | $969 |
| Median household income | $47,059 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Polkton
| People | Polkton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Polkton
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polkton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 31, 2022 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 25, 1986.
Severe weather in Anson County since 1996
Anson County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Anson County
Anson County had 6,594 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,962 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Polkton itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Polkton
1 public school with 216 students, about 19.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anson Co. Early College High | 9-13 | 216 | 19.6 |
Towns near Polkton
- Wadesboro, NC7.4 mi · 5,008 people · home $153,200
- Marshville, NC9.8 mi · 2,522 people · home $172,300
- Wingate, NC14.3 mi · 4,055 people · home $229,800
- Norwood, NC16.6 mi · 2,367 people · home $185,200
- Oakboro, NC17.4 mi · 2,128 people · home $282,600
- Mount Gilead, NC18.3 mi · 1,171 people · home $157,300
- Unionville, NC18.9 mi · 6,643 people · home $336,200
- Pageland, SC19.3 mi · 2,456 people · home $186,600
Polkton questions
Is Polkton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Polkton scores better for retirees than 19% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 78%. 11.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Polkton?
The median owner-occupied home in Polkton is valued at $130,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,059, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,009 a month.
What is the weather like in Polkton?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Polkton get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polkton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 31, 2022. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)