Jamie Stitt
Assistant Commissioner, Business and Workforce Development
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243Common Search Terms
Polk County
County Profile ToolPolk County
Population & Demographics
Location
Time Zone
Eastern Time Zone
Grand Division
East Tennessee
Area (Square Miles)
434.6
County Seat
Benton
Metropolitan Area
Cleveland, TN
ECD Region
Southeast
Population
Population
(2020)
17,544
Population
(2022)
17,620
Population Change
(2020 - 2022)
0.4%
Population Forecast
(2040)
18,636
Foreign Born Population
188
Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)
1.10%
Language Other Than English Spoken At Home
2.60%
Civilian Veteran Population
955
Race (Percentage of Population)
White Alone
91.70%
Black or African American, alone
0.40%
American Indian And Alaska Native, alone
0.30%
Asian, alone
0.20%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone
0.00%
Some Other Race, alone
0.60%
Two or More Races
6.70%
Hispanic or Latino
2.20%
Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total
Under 5 Years Old
Male: 4.70%
Female: 0.044
Total: 4.60%
Under 18 Years Old
Male: 19.80%
Female: 19.30%
Total: 19.50%
18-64 Years Old
Male: 60.30%
Female: 58.80%
Total: 59.60%
65 Years and Over
Male: 19.90%
Female: 21.90%
Total: 20.90%
Median Age
Male: 46.3
Female: 45.9
Total: 46.5
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tennessee State Data Center (2024)
Housing & Income
Housing & Income
Households
7,101
Homeownership Rate
78.9%
Persons Per Household
2.45
Living In Same House 1 Year & Over
86.2%
Median Home Value
$128,200
Annual Home Sales
160
Median Sale Price of Homes Sold
$200,000
Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level
12.9%
Total Personal Income
$728.2M
Personal Income Per Capita
$40,771
County Median Wage
$17.71
Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household
Less Than $10,000
6.6%
$10,000 to $14,999
6.6%
$15,000 to $24,999
9.4%
$25,000 to $34,999
9.7%
$35,000 to $49,999
15.0%
$50,000 to $74,999
16.4%
$75,000 to $99,999
12.4%
$100,000 to $149,999
13.6%
$150,000 to $199,999
4.7%
$200,000 or More
5.5%
Median Household Income
$53,775
Percentage of Households by Income Range
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (2023)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2023)
Lightcast (2023)
Tax Structure
Property Tax
Property Tax Rate (County)
$1.6895
State Property Tax
None
Assessment Ratio: Residential Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Farm Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Commercial/Industrial Property
40%
Assessment Ratio: Public Utility Property
55%
Assessment Ratio: Business Personal Property
30%
State Tax
State Income Tax on Wages
None
State Income Tax: Interest from Bonds and Notes and Dividends from Stock
None (Hall Income tax was fully repealed January 1, 2021)
Excise Tax (State)
6.5% of Tennessee taxable income
Franchise Tax (state)
0.25% of the greater of net worth or real and tangible property in Tennessee. The minimum tax is $100.
Unemployment Insurance Tax (state)
2.7% of the first $7,000 in wages for new employers
Sales Tax
State Sales Tax Rate
7.0%
County Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2023)
$4,011,326
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2024)
$3,916,178
Local Sales Tax Collections Growth
(FY 2023 - FY 2024)
2.43%
State Bond Ratings
Moody's
Aaa
Standard & Poor's
AAA
Fitch
AAA
Debt per Capita
State Debt per Capita
$988
County Debt Per Capita
$261
Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2024)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2024)
The Tax Foundation (2024)
Labor Force
Labor Force Estimates (2023)
Tennessee
Polk
Labor Force
Tennessee: 3,379,605
Polk: 7,064
Employment
Tennessee: 3,267,935
Polk: 6,788
Unemployment
Tennessee: 111,670
Polk: 276
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee: 3.30%
Polk: 3.90%
Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
Polk
2019
Tennessee: 7.40%
Polk: 6.80%
2020
Tennessee: 4.50%
Polk: 4.30%
2021
Tennessee: 3.40%
Polk: 3.70%
2022
Tennessee: 3.30%
Polk: 3.90%
Unemployment Rate (by percentage)
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Industries
Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Employment: 35
Establishments: 1
Avg. Annual Wages: $37,327
Construction
Employment: 120
Establishments: 21
Employment: $42,264
Manufacturing
Employment: 205
Establishments: 18
Employment: $39,317
Wholesale Trade
Employment: 84
Establishments: 9
Employment: $70,649
Retail Trade
Employment: 295
Establishments: 45
Employment: $32,132
Transportation and Warehousing
Employment: 30
Establishments: 4
Employment: $58,282
Finance and Insurance
Employment: 62
Establishments: 13
Employment: $52,073
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Employment: 67
Establishments: 6
Employment: $45,435
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Employment: 50
Establishments: 24
Employment: $79,588
Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation
Employment: 62
Establishments: 5
Employment: $41,274
Health Care and Social Assistance
Employment: 252
Establishments: 36
Employment: $47,397
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Employment: 217
Establishments: 21
Employment: $16,622
Accommodation and Food Services
Employment: 300
Establishments: 25
Employment: $17,467
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Employment: 54
Establishments: 13
Employment: $25,053
Government
Employment: 689
Establishments: 33
Employment: $43,371
Total
Employment: 2,539
Establishments: 285
Employment: $38,285
Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*
Psychiatric Aides
Employment: 19
Location Quotient*: 25.6
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Employment: 11
Location Quotient*: 12.89
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Employment: 31
Location Quotient*: 5.76
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Employment: 29
Location Quotient*: 4.37
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
Employment: 12
Location Quotient*: 4.3
Key Cluster
Total Employment
Advanced Materials
0
Aerospace & Defense
0
Appliances & Electrical
0
Automotive
0
Business Services
13
Chemicals
25
Distribution & Logistics
108
Film, Music & Entertainment
0
Food & Beverage
88
Healthcare & Medical Devices
17
Top Employers
Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City
Polk County Board of Education
Est. Employees: 322
City: Benton
Polk Conty Government
Est. Employees: 117
City: Benton
Life Care Centers of American, Inc.
Est. Employees: 103
City: Ducktown
CG Roxane Water
Est. Employees: 45
City: Benton
Polymer Components
Est. Employees: 30
City: Benton
Transportation & Logistics
Transportation
Nearest Commercial Service Airport
Chattanooga Metropolitan
Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport
39
Daily Flights At Nearest Commercial Service Airport
25
Nearest General Aviation Airport
Martin Campbell Field (Copperhill)
Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport
3,500'
Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)
30
Access of Interstate
I-75 (13 miles)
U.S. Highways
64, 74, 411
State Highways
30, 33, 40, 68, 123, 163, 313, 314, 315
Nearest Port (From County Seat)
Chattanooga
Railroads Serving County
CSX
Sources:
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Data (2024)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Education
General Stats
Polk
Tennessee
Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher
Polk: 85.7%
Tennessee: 91.5%
Population Aged 25-64 With Associate's Degree Or Higher
Polk: 27.6%
Tennessee: 41.2%
Population Aged 25-64 With Bachelor's Degree Or Higher
Polk: 14.1%
Tennessee: 32.8%
High School Graduation Rate
Polk: 93.8%
Tennessee: 90.6%
College Going Rate
Polk: 51.0%
Tennessee: 56.7%
Average ACT Score
Polk: 18.4
Tennessee: 19.0
High School Graduation Rate
College Going Rate
Average ACT Score
Polk County Schools
Enrollment
Elementary Schools
Enrollment: 904
Middle Schools
Enrollment: 473
High Schools
Enrollment: 657
Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment
Lee University
City: Cleveland
Enrollment: 3,927
Cleveland State Community College
City: Cleveland
Enrollment: 3,180
Tennessee Wesleyan College
City: Athens
Enrollment: 1,052
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens
City: Athens
Enrollment: 221
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 1-Year American Community Survey,
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Department of Education (2022-2023)
National Center for Education Statistics
Tennessee Board of Regents and Tennessee Higher Education Commission
† Regional higher education institutions include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Due to data availability, federal graduation rates were used for Clay, Fentress, and Haywood counties.
Health & Public Safety
Doctors
Number of Doctors
16
Overweight & Obesity Prevalence
Adults*
31.2
Children** (Grade 8)
41.9
Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City
Sources:
American Medical Association (2023)
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Tennessee Department of Health
† Regional hospitals include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Climate
Climate
Average High Temperature
70.7°F
Average Low Temperature
48.4°F
Average Annual Temperature
59.6°F
Annual Rainfall
63.59"
Elevation (at County Seat)
748'
Prevailing Winds
Southwest
Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)
Community Information
Benton
Population (2022)
1,526
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.77
Phone Number
(423) 338-5733
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Copperhill
Population (2022)
417
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.25%
City Property Tax Rate
$1.14
Phone Number
(423) 496-5141
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
Main Street Participant
No
Ducktown
Population (2019)
478
Charter Type
General Law Manager-Commission
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.25%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.79
Phone Number
(423) 496-3546
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
Main Street Participant
No
Additional Community Information
ThreeStar Certified County
Yes
Sources:
Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2015)
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2015)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 5-Year American Community Survey