Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Cleveland, TN

Cost of living in Polk County, TN

Part of the Cleveland Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,757/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 17,702 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $922 33%
Healthcare $480 17%
Federal tax $472 17%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $317 11%
Energy $191 7%
Water $55 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Polk County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$830
per month
1 bedroom
$922
per month
2 bedroom
$1,210
per month
3 bedroom
$1,579
per month
4 bedroom
$1,604
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Polk County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$60,227
per year
Individual earnings
$38,934
per year
Per capita
$33,714
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Polk County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$136,400
Annual property tax
$770

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Polk County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$147
per month · 13.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$44
per month
Annual total
$2,292
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Polk County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
15.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Polk County

State and local tax rates for Tennessee.

No state income tax
Tennessee does not levy a personal income tax.
State sales tax
7.0%
Combined sales tax
9.6%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Polk County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
31.5 min
Drive alone
80.4%
Public transit
0.1%
Work from home
8.0%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Polk County

What it costs to live in Polk County each month.

Single person
$2,757
per month
  • Rent $922
  • Energy $191
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $317
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $472
  • State tax $0
Couple
$3,969
per month
  • Rent $1,210
  • Energy $229
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $525
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $656
  • State tax $0
Family
$6,463
per month
  • Rent $1,579
  • Energy $286
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $797
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $656
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Polk County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Polk County?

In Polk County, TN, a one-bedroom apartment averages $922 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,210 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,579 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Polk County?

In Polk County, TN, the average household income is $60,227 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $38,934 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Polk County?

The estimated cost of living in Polk County, TN is approximately $2,757 per month for a single person, $3,969 for a couple, $6,463 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Polk County?

The combined sales tax rate in Polk County, TN is 9.55%, which includes the Tennessee state rate of 7.00% plus an average local rate of 2.55%.

Is Polk County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Polk County, TN would need approximately $2,757 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $60,227 per year ($5,019 per month). Polk County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Polk County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Polk County, TN is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 15.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Polk County?

The average home value in Polk County, TN is $136,400, with average annual property taxes of $770, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Polk County compare to other areas?

You can compare Polk County, TN with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Polk County is in the Cleveland, TN metro area.

Other counties in Tennessee

Browse the full list of counties in Tennessee, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Tennessee

Compare Polk County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources