Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
87% of households are owner-occupiers in Polkville, above both North Carolina’s towns (67%) and U.S. towns (73%). Polkville has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Polkville beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 528 in 1980, a peak of 1,514 in 1990, 516 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1950 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Polkville, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Polkville.
Polkville’s median rent stands at $820 a month, against $1,085 a month in North Carolina’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. Values fell 7.7% in the year to September 2026.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Just 2% of Polkville’s working residents have a job in town. Jobs based in Polkville grew to 70 in 2023, 24 more than in 2013. For half of commuters, work is under 24 miles away. The top destinations are Shelby (20%), Charlotte (8%) and Gastonia (6%).
| Polkville | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 6.8% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10% | 13% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
A winter brings about 3 inches of snow, with January nights at 29° and July afternoons at 89°.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
One declared disaster, in 2024, has brought federal aid to Polkville households. Compared with 62% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage here is lower. Of the losses FEMA expects here, 55% come from inland flooding and 11% from tornadoes.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Age groups here sit within 4 points of the North Carolina average. 26% of adults 25 and older hold at least a bachelor’s degree, against 36% across North Carolina. For Polkville, the midpoint age is 38.6 years.
| Polkville | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 years | 40.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 29% | 29% |
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5 points. Across North Carolina, 51.1% of residents are women.
| Polkville | NC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.7% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.6% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.5% | 13.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.6% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.1% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.1% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.9% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.7% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 39% | 24.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.4% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.9% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 13.2% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.9% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 500, single groups can be off by several points
The share of adults in Polkville who get no exercise outside work: 29%. Among 290 North Carolina towns, just 9 have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Polkville.
| Polkville | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 25% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 38% | 35% |
| What stands out | Polkville | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 25.2% | 13.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.4% | 7.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.3% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
2 within 15 miles of the center of Polkville
About 3 of every 100 Polkville residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
Where Polkville’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in North Carolina, United States
Polkville is a small town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 545 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Polkville has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.