Market Snapshot
Report generated March 2026
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,689 ↑ 1.9% since 2020 |
| Median Household Income | $61,005 18% below national median |
| Median Home Value | $281,100 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% |
| Median Age | 54.4 years |
| Housing Vacancy Rate | 20.3% |
| Total Land Sales (Past 12 Months) | 100 transactions |
| Active Listings | 200 properties |
| Avg Days on Market | 325 days |
Rural Land Sales (1+ Acres) (Mar 2025 – Mar 2026)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Price/Acre | $24,476 |
| Recent Sales | 90 transactions |
| Avg Days on Market | 173 days |
| Avg Parcel Size | 8.00 acres |
| Active Listings | 178 properties |
Recent Rural Land Sales
| Date | Acres | Price | $/Acre | Address | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026New | 1.90 | $150,000 | $78,947 | 0 Holland Dr | Columbus |
| Mar 2026New | 1.19 | $32,500 | $27,311 | 1.1 Acres Orchard Ln | Saluda |
| Mar 2026New | 1.64 | $28,000 | $17,073 | 58 White Oak Mountain Rd | Columbus |
| Feb 2026 | 20.23 | $112,500 | $5,561 | 9999 Country Club Rd | Tryon |
| Feb 2026 | 13.78 | $70,000 | $5,080 | 0 Hampton Street | Columbus |
| Feb 2026 | 2.20 | $150,000 | $68,182 | 2 Price Summit Way | Mill Spring |
| Feb 2026 | 3.87 | $150,000 | $38,760 | 3 Price Summit Way | Mill Spring |
| Feb 2026 | 3.91 | $31,500 | $8,056 | 40 Palisade Dr | Lake Lure |
| Feb 2026 | 20.00 | $332,240 | $16,612 | TRACT One Holbert Cove Rd | Mill Spring |
| Feb 2026 | 10.54 | $220,000 | $20,873 | 0 County Line Rd | Rutherfordton |
| Date | Acres | Price | $/Acre | Address | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | 8.63 | $112,190 | $13,000 | 0 Judes Gap Rd #3 | Mill Spring |
| Feb 2026 | 6.59 | $85,670 | $13,000 | 0 Judes Gap Rd #2 | Mill Spring |
| Jan 2026 | 4.50 | $225,000 | $50,000 | Parkway Rd N #3 | Mill Spring |
| Jan 2026 | 21.46 | $335,000 | $15,610 | 9999 Moore Rd #3 | Tryon |
| Jan 2026 | 4.00 | $90,000 | $22,500 | 6617 Green River Cove Rd | Saluda |
| Jan 2026 | 20.00 | $625,000 | $31,250 | 0 Prospect Point Dr | Tryon |
| Jan 2026 | 2.39 | $65,000 | $27,197 | 0 Cherry Hl #202 | Mill Spring |
| Jan 2026 | 2.00 | $100,000 | $50,000 | 999 Rivercrest Pkwy #28 | Rutherfordton |
| Jan 2026 | 2.45 | $155,000 | $63,265 | 1140 Laurel Crest Ln | Mill Spring |
| Dec 2025 | 1.03 | $12,500 | $12,136 | 71 Serpentine Dr | Columbus |
| Dec 2025 | 4.59 | $50,000 | $10,893 | 0 River Park Ln #27 | Mill Spring |
| Dec 2025 | 17.21 | $469,000 | $27,252 | Golf Course Rd | Columbus |
| Dec 2025 | 3.53 | $87,000 | $24,646 | 1015 Cross Ridge Dr | Rutherfordton |
| Dec 2025 | 2.14 | $110,000 | $51,402 | 62 Lake Adger Pkwy | Mill Spring |
| Dec 2025 | 1.40 | $45,000 | $32,143 | 0 Chesnee Rd | Columbus |
| Dec 2025 | 10.26 | $145,000 | $14,133 | 0 Fox Mountain Rd #3 | Columbus |
| Nov 2025 | 9.00 | $240,000 | $26,667 | LOT 8 Whiteside Rd | Mill Spring |
| Nov 2025 | 5.11 | $90,000 | $17,613 | 0 Riversound Ln | Saluda |
| Nov 2025 | 26.87 | $396,000 | $14,738 | 1305 County Line Rd | Rutherfordton |
| Nov 2025 | 12.50 | $260,000 | $20,800 | 0 Meadowbrook Rd | Rutherfordton |
| Nov 2025 | 22.00 | $515,000 | $23,409 | 321 Ivie Trl | Columbus |
| Nov 2025 | 1.35 | $52,000 | $38,519 | 396 White Oak Mountain Rd #39 | Columbus |
| Nov 2025 | 2.98 | $155,000 | $52,013 | 63 Lake Adger Pkwy | Mill Spring |
| Nov 2025 | 11.17 | $75,000 | $6,714 | 0 Little Wings Mountain Rd | Columbus |
| Oct 2025 | 2.22 | $79,000 | $35,586 | 0 N Coast Dr #17-6 | Mill Spring |
| Oct 2025 | 5.38 | $140,000 | $26,022 | 0 Prince Rd Lot 4 | Columbus |
| Oct 2025 | 5.38 | $140,000 | $26,022 | Prince Rd Lot 4 | Columbus |
| Oct 2025 | 9.00 | $243,000 | $27,000 | LOT 17.2 Saddleside Dr | Mill Spring |
| Oct 2025 | 6.70 | $154,500 | $23,060 | 28 River Park Ln | Mill Spring |
| Oct 2025 | 1.23 | $36,000 | $29,268 | 3 Azalea Way | Saluda |
| Oct 2025 | 9.48 | $185,000 | $19,515 | 28 Fallen Tree Ln | Mill Spring |
| Oct 2025 | 7.00 | $154,500 | $22,071 | LOT 28 River Park Ln | Mill Spring |
| Oct 2025 | 1.22 | $37,000 | $30,328 | 5 Azalea Way | Saluda |
| Oct 2025 | 1.12 | $11,600 | $10,357 | 52 Blockaders Den #52 | Columbus |
| Sep 2025 | 10.69 | $375,000 | $35,080 | 1258 Smith Waldrop Rd | Columbus |
| Sep 2025 | 14.35 | $132,000 | $9,199 | 473 Jones Rd | Mill Spring |
| Sep 2025 | 3.17 | $45,000 | $14,196 | LOT 4A S Cove Rd | Mill Spring |
| Sep 2025 | 80.88 | $450,000 | $5,564 | Country Club Rd | Tryon |
| Sep 2025 | 2.01 | $112,000 | $55,721 | 1302 W Melvin Hill Rd | Columbus |
| Sep 2025 | 1.50 | $18,500 | $12,333 | 0 Cherokee Cir #11 | Tryon |
| Sep 2025 | 21.66 | $368,000 | $16,990 | Melvin Hill Rd | Columbus |
| Sep 2025 | 2.02 | $72,000 | $35,644 | 0 Holland Dr #15 | Columbus |
| Sep 2025 | 21.66 | $368,000 | $16,990 | 0 Melvin Hill Rd | Columbus |
| Aug 2025 | 8.64 | $212,500 | $24,595 | 0 Mountain Pkwy | Mill Spring |
| Aug 2025 | 9.11 | $250,000 | $27,442 | 3600 Lake Adger Rd | Mill Spring |
| Aug 2025 | 3.90 | $100,104 | $25,668 | 736 English Heifer Cove Rd | Flat Rock |
| Aug 2025 | 1.07 | $28,000 | $26,168 | 0 Hayes Rd #67 | Columbus |
| Aug 2025 | 2.68 | $60,000 | $22,388 | 27 S Cross Creek Trl | Mill Spring |
| Aug 2025 | 10.50 | $257,000 | $24,476 | 0 Landrum Rd | Columbus |
| Aug 2025 | 8.50 | $254,000 | $29,882 | 138 Stacey Rd | Rutherfordton |
| Aug 2025 | 1.80 | $237,700 | $132,056 | 0 Birchover Ln | Columbus |
| Aug 2025 | 3.64 | $30,000 | $8,242 | 0 State Highway 9 | Mill Spring |
| Jul 2025 | 10.00 | $220,000 | $22,000 | 108 State Highway 108 | Columbus |
| Jul 2025 | 2.25 | $75,000 | $33,333 | LOT 1 Poors Ford Rd | Rutherfordton |
| Jul 2025 | 1.29 | $80,000 | $62,016 | 61 Deep Gap Farm Rd E | Mill Spring |
| Jul 2025 | 23.60 | $325,000 | $13,771 | Blackwood Rd | Columbus |
| Jun 2025 | 10.20 | $200,000 | $19,608 | 1135 Skyuka Mountain Rd | Columbus |
| Jun 2025 | 5.81 | $90,000 | $15,491 | McDade Rd | Tryon |
| Jun 2025 | 5.80 | $90,000 | $15,517 | 0 McDade Rd | Tryon |
| Jun 2025 | 2.24 | $52,500 | $23,437 | 1154 State Rd | Flat Rock |
| Jun 2025 | 1.03 | $7,500 | $7,282 | 0 Bridge Ln #2 | Tryon |
| Jun 2025 | 1.38 | $10,000 | $7,246 | 0 Bridge Ln #1 | Tryon |
| May 2025 | 10.00 | $195,000 | $19,500 | 0 Manus Chapel Rd | Mill Spring |
| May 2025 | 3.55 | $95,000 | $26,761 | 000 Sandy Plains Rd | Tryon |
| May 2025 | 2.50 | $75,500 | $30,200 | 0 Prince Rd #3 | Columbus |
| May 2025 | 2.50 | $75,500 | $30,200 | Prince Rd Lot 3 | Columbus |
| May 2025 | 19.00 | $620,000 | $32,632 | LOT 3 High Meadows Dr | Mill Spring |
| May 2025 | 1.10 | $114,000 | $103,636 | 0 Huskey Pointe #6 | Mill Spring |
| May 2025 | 5.84 | $30,000 | $5,137 | 0 Holland Dr #40 & 41 | Columbus |
| May 2025 | 7.01 | $196,280 | $28,000 | 0 Thad Johnson Rd | Saluda |
| May 2025 | 11.82 | $420,000 | $35,533 | 0 Jackson Grove Rd | Columbus |
| Apr 2025 | 2.63 | $304,000 | $115,589 | 386 Sandy Plains Rd | Tryon |
| Apr 2025 | 1.15 | $80,000 | $69,565 | LOT 136 E Deep Gap Farm Rd | Mill Spring |
| Apr 2025 | 18.00 | $186,000 | $10,333 | 960 Phillips Dairy Rd | Tryon |
| Apr 2025 | 4.77 | $170,000 | $35,639 | 0 Herbert Page Rd | Tryon |
| Apr 2025 | 10.63 | $135,000 | $12,700 | 0 Fox Mountain Rd #11 | Columbus |
| Apr 2025 | 7.74 | $265,000 | $34,238 | 1434 New Market Rd | Tryon |
| Apr 2025 | 2.93 | $48,500 | $16,553 | 0 Hunting Country Rd | Tryon |
| Apr 2025 | 3.65 | $48,500 | $13,288 | 0 Destiny Dr #8 | Mill Spring |
| Mar 2025 | 2.88 | $40,000 | $13,889 | 0 Rubin Wilson Rd | Mill Spring |
Suburban/Urban Land Sales (Under 1 Acre) (Oct 2025 – Mar 2026)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Lot Price | $30,000 |
| Recent Sales | 10 transactions |
| Avg Days on Market | 53 days |
| Avg Parcel Size | 0.68 acres |
| Active Listings | 22 properties |
Recent Suburban/Urban Land Sales
| Date | Acres | Price | Address | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026New | 0.69 | $25,000 | 171 Mountain Laurel Dr | Columbus |
| Mar 2026New | 0.64 | $34,000 | 0 Forester Ln #21 | Mill Spring |
| Mar 2026New | 0.70 | $30,000 | 0 Meadowlark Ln #22 | Columbus |
| Feb 2026 | 0.52 | $79,500 | 0 Hillside Ct | Tryon |
| Jan 2026 | 0.59 | $6,100 | Horse Creek Dr | Mill Spring |
| Jan 2026 | 0.77 | $12,500 | 0 Forester Ln #25 | Mill Spring |
| Jan 2026 | 0.79 | $12,500 | 0 Forester Ln #24 | Mill Spring |
| Jan 2026 | 0.56 | $27,500 | 46 Dublin Ln | Columbus |
| Nov 2025 | 0.75 | $41,000 | 0 Dogwood Ct Unit 12 | Tryon |
| Oct 2025 | 0.82 | $32,500 | LOT P21 Green River Cove Rd #39 | Saluda |
County Profile
| Demographic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Population (2023) | 19,689 |
| Population (2020) | 19,328 |
| Population Growth | 1.87% |
| Median Household Income | $61,005 |
| Median Home Value | $281,100 |
| Total Housing Units | 10,949 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 2,222 |
| Housing Vacancy Rate | 20.3% |
| Median Age | 54.4 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 3,163 (16.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate (BLS) | 3.1% |
Market Overview
Polk County, North Carolina has a population of 19,689, which has grown 1.87% since 2020. The median household income is $61,005, below the national median of $74,580 by 18.2%. With a median home value of $281,100 and an unemployment rate of 3.1%, the local economy is moderate. The housing vacancy rate of 20.3% suggests soft market conditions. Polk County remains a key area for land acquisition in North Carolina. Recent rural land sales show a median price of $22,000 per acre, with properties averaging 10.30 acres. There are currently 200 active land listings in the county.
Related Resources
Nearby County Reports
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current population of Polk County, North Carolina?
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, Polk County has a population of 19,689. The county has grown 1.87% since the 2020 Census, indicating a growing community.
What is the median household income in Polk County?
The median household income in Polk County is $61,005, which is 18.2% below the national median of $74,580.
Is Polk County growing or shrinking?
Polk County is growing. The population has increased 1.87% since 2020.
What is the housing market like in Polk County?
The median home value in Polk County is $281,100. The housing vacancy rate is 20.3%, which suggests soft market conditions. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, indicating a moderate local economy. Recent rural land sales (1+ acres) show a median price of $22,000 per acre. Suburban/urban lots under 1 acre have a median lot price of $32,500.
Does Reelvest buy land in Polk County, North Carolina?
Yes! Reelvest Properties buys vacant land throughout North Carolina, including Polk County. We make cash offers within 24-48 hours, close in 14-30 days, and pay all closing costs. Get your free cash offer today.
Data Sources: Market data reflects recent vacant land transactions in the county. Demographic data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2023), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Updated monthly.