The Town Files

Polk County, Tennessee

17,898 people. The median home is worth $169,900 (typical Tennessee town: $204,650) and the median household earns $62,522.

Towns in Polk County

Towns in Polk County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Benton1,523$184,200$29,41438.8
Delano777$163,500$121,25049.3

People and housing

Polk CountyTypical Tennessee town
Median home value$169,900$204,650
Median rent$676$863
Median household income$62,522$57,917
Median age46.940.8
Bachelor's degree or higher16.6%18.2%
Below the poverty line13.9%14.2%

Jobs and pay

2,759 jobs in 2024, average pay $41,945 a year.

Largest industries in Polk CountyRetail378 jobs · $32,935Hotels & restaurants330 jobs · $20,603Manufacturing244 jobs · $44,170Arts & recreation241 jobs · $14,367Construction125 jobs · $48,632Administrative & support71 jobs · $60,598
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Polk County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 320 storm events in Polk County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Polk County by type since 1996Hail37Flood10Tornado9High Wind13Ice Storm4Heavy Snow18Flash Flood5Strong Wind4Funnel Cloud3Winter Storm31
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Polk County has been included in 23 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 6, 2026Winter StormDR-4898: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3635: Severe Winter Storm
April 2, 2025Severe StormEM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
June 17, 2024Severe StormDR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
May 17, 2023Severe StormDR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado
April 24, 2020Severe StormDR-4541: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).