Polk County's composite score of 79.0 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by 58%, ranking among America's more livable counties. Its performance combines strong tax and cost advantages with the highest income score in this peer group.
2 / 5
Third-Ranked County in Tennessee
Polk County ranks third statewide with a score of 79.0, outpacing Tennessee's average of 76.3 by nearly three points. It stands among the state's most attractive counties for those seeking balanced livability metrics.
3 / 5
Strong Income Coupled with Low Costs
Polk County leads this peer group with an income score of 22.7 and median household income of $60,227, while maintaining a cost score of 87.6 and tax score of 86.4. Median rent at $668/month represents the region's lowest, creating exceptional household budgeting flexibility.
4 / 5
Complete Data Gaps on Quality of Life
While Polk County excels on financial metrics, safety, health, school quality, environmental, and risk data are all unavailable, leaving these critical livability dimensions unassessed. These gaps prevent a fully informed comparison with peer counties.
5 / 5
Best All-Around Value in This Group
Polk County suits families with moderate to middle-class incomes seeking affordable housing and low taxes in a rural setting. Its highest income score suggests stronger local employment options relative to peer counties, making it appealing to working families.
Polk County's composite score of 79.0 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by 58%, ranking among America's more livable counties. Its performance combines strong tax and cost advantages with the highest income score in this peer group.
Third-Ranked County in Tennessee
Polk County ranks third statewide with a score of 79.0, outpacing Tennessee's average of 76.3 by nearly three points. It stands among the state's most attractive counties for those seeking balanced livability metrics.
Strong Income Coupled with Low Costs
Polk County leads this peer group with an income score of 22.7 and median household income of $60,227, while maintaining a cost score of 87.6 and tax score of 86.4. Median rent at $668/month represents the region's lowest, creating exceptional household budgeting flexibility.
Complete Data Gaps on Quality of Life
While Polk County excels on financial metrics, safety, health, school quality, environmental, and risk data are all unavailable, leaving these critical livability dimensions unassessed. These gaps prevent a fully informed comparison with peer counties.
Best All-Around Value in This Group
Polk County suits families with moderate to middle-class incomes seeking affordable housing and low taxes in a rural setting. Its highest income score suggests stronger local employment options relative to peer counties, making it appealing to working families.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛86.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Polk County taxes remain well below national median
Polk County's effective tax rate of 0.565% is less than one-fifth the national median property tax burden of $2,690, placing it squarely in the lowest quartile of U.S. counties. This makes Polk substantially more affordable than typical American property markets.
Above average among Tennessee counties
Polk County's 0.565% effective rate exceeds Tennessee's 0.511% state average, ranking it in the upper tier of the state's 95 counties. The median tax of $770 on a $136,400 home reflects the county's position as a moderate-to-higher taxer within Tennessee.
Polk ranks high among surrounding counties
Polk's 0.565% rate nearly matches Morgan County (0.581%) and significantly exceeds Overton (0.394%), Pickett (0.374%), and Rhea (0.462%). In the region, Polk ranks among the higher-taxed counties, second only to Morgan.
A $136,400 home costs $770 annually
Polk County's median homeowner with a $136,400 home pays $770 per year in property tax—roughly $64 per month. With mortgage escrow, that figure reaches $975 annually.
Homeowners should challenge inflated assessments
Polk County property owners should regularly compare their county assessments to recent county sales of similar homes to catch overvaluation. An assessment appeal is your right if the county's valuation exceeds your home's fair market value, potentially reducing your annual tax bill.
Polk County delivers Tennessee's best rental affordability
Polk County's 13.3% rent-to-income ratio stands among Tennessee's strongest affordability metrics and comfortably beats the state average of 17.6%. At $668 monthly rent from a median household income of $60,227, Polk County renters enjoy genuine housing cost relief compared to peers across the state and nation.
Best-in-class affordability ranking within Tennessee
Polk County ranks among Tennessee's most affordable counties for housing, with a rent-to-income ratio that substantially underperforms the state average. The county combines modest rents with above-median local incomes, creating exceptional affordability for renters.
Lowest rents in the region by far
Polk County's $668 median rent is the lowest across its region, undercutting Morgan County ($742), Perry County ($747), and substantially beating Putnam County ($881) and Overton County ($833). The county emerges as the clear rental value leader for East-Central Tennessee.
Rent claims just 13.3% of income
Polk County renters spend only $668 monthly—13.3% of their median household income of $60,227—enjoying the region's most comfortable housing-to-income ratio. Homeowners invest $587 monthly on ownership costs for homes valued near $136,400, reflecting balanced affordability across housing types.
Polk County is Tennessee's rental value destination
Families prioritizing housing affordability should strongly consider Polk County, where rents run lowest and local incomes remain solid compared to neighboring counties. The county delivers rare affordable-living advantages without requiring relocation to economically distressed areas.
Polk County's median household income of $60,227 falls $14,528 short of the national median of $74,755, but represents the strongest performance in its peer group. The county earns 81% of the national median—significantly better than rural peers.
Above Tennessee's Statewide Income Average
Polk County exceeds Tennessee's median household income of $58,994 by $1,233, ranking among the stronger performers statewide. The per capita income of $33,714 also surpasses the state average of $31,458.
Highest Income in Rural County Cluster
Polk County's $60,227 median income outpaces all peer counties, leading by $2,094 over Rhea County ($58,133). The county's strong earnings position makes it an outlier in this lower-income rural region.
Excellent Affordability and Housing Stability
At 13.3%, Polk County boasts the lowest rent-to-income ratio in its peer group, well below the 30% affordability threshold. The median home value of $136,400 represents just 2.3 years of gross household income—the most favorable ratio for wealth-building through homeownership.
Maximize Wealth Through Disciplined Investing
Polk County's strong income and affordable housing create an ideal environment for wealth accumulation. Households should prioritize retirement savings, diversified investments, and long-term financial planning to leverage their income advantage and build generational wealth.
Polk County's health significantly lags nationally
At 70.7 years, Polk County's life expectancy is 5.4 years below the U.S. average of 76.1 years—among the lowest in this peer group and a serious health crisis. While 21.6% report poor or fair health, only slightly above the national average of 17.9%, the low life expectancy suggests premature mortality is the bigger problem.
Polk County trails Tennessee's average significantly
At 70.7 years, Polk County's life expectancy is 1.7 years below Tennessee's average of 72.4 years, making it among the state's least healthy counties. Its uninsured rate of 12.9% exceeds the state average of 11.9%.
Moderate primary care, solid mental health support
Polk County offers 34 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—more than Morgan County (19 per 100K) but less than Overton County (39 per 100K). Mental health services at 28 providers per 100K are modest but more substantial than Overton County's critically low rate.
Adequate providers, but shortest lifespan signals deeper issues
Despite having 34 primary care and 28 mental health providers per 100K, Polk County residents have the shortest life expectancy (70.7 years) in this group, suggesting that provider availability alone doesn't address underlying mortality drivers. With 12.9% uninsured, cost barriers likely prevent many from accessing available care.
Coverage is step one to better health
Getting insured opens doors to the primary and mental health services available in Polk County. Call 1-800-318-2596 or visit healthcare.gov to explore Medicaid, marketplace plans, and community health center services designed to improve health outcomes.
Polk County's composite risk score of 31.17 falls well below the national average, placing it in the very low disaster exposure category. The county benefits from a relatively protected position against most major natural hazards.
Lower-risk county in Tennessee
Polk County scores 31.17 compared to Tennessee's state average of 52.45, ranking among the state's safer communities for natural disaster exposure. The county sits comfortably in the lower half of Tennessee's risk distribution.
Comparable to other low-risk areas
Polk County (31.17) maintains similar low risk to Overton County (22.23) and Perry County (33.40), though faces higher exposure than Pickett County (4.61). The county occupies the safer end of the regional risk spectrum.
Wildfire and earthquake are top concerns
Wildfire risk (75.64) represents Polk County's most significant hazard, driven by forest proximity and terrain, while earthquake risk (70.77) presents secondary concern. Tornado risk (50.67) and flood risk (42.56) complete the county's hazard profile.
Prioritize wildfire and earthquake coverage
Polk County homeowners should secure standard homeowners insurance and strongly consider supplemental wildfire coverage given the county's 75.64 risk score, particularly for properties in forested areas. Separate earthquake insurance is also prudent given the 70.77 seismic exposure.