Data through September 2026 · updated 2026-11-07 · free, from Zillow, Realtor.com, the Census Bureau and other public sources
Typical home value$306,649−3.0% YoY · prices are falling
Market right nowBalanced, leaning buyersFewer homes for sale than last year, 19% have cut their price
Income needed to buy, per year$66,475About 0.9× the local median income ($74,525): affordable for a typical household
Days on market96 daysFaster than a year ago: sellers have the edge
The typical home in Polk County, NC is worth $306,649, down 3.0% from a year ago. That is slightly above what local incomes have historically supported: fair value is about $301,410, so the area is 1.7% overvalued. It is a balanced market, leaning toward buyers: homes take about 96 days to sell, listings are down 6% from a year ago, 19% of listings have had a price cut. A household needs about $66,475 a year to afford the typical home here at today's 7.18% mortgage rate (20% down, payment at 30% of income); the median household earns $74,525. Typical rent is $2,500 a month. In the latest IRS figures, 210 more people moved in than out.
Home value over time
Solid: typical home value · dashed: fair value (household income × the 20-year average price-to-income ratio). Sources: FHFA, Zillow, U.S. Census Bureau.
Prices and affordability
Typical home value
$306,649
Change in 1 year
−3.0%
Overvalued %
+1.7%
Show 6 more
Fair home value
$301,410
Change in 5 years
+18.9%
Home value to income
4.1×
Monthly mortgage payment (20% down)
$1,662
Income needed to afford it
$66,475
Property tax rate
0.54%
Rent and investing
Typical rent
$2,500
Price-to-rent ratio
10.2×
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,012
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Gross rental yield
9.78%
Cap rate (estimate)
6.36%
Market activity
Listings vs a year ago
−5.8%
Days on market
96
Listings with a price cut
19.0%
Show 3 more
Homes for sale
195
Pending sales per 100 listings
16
Asking price per sq ft
$273
People and jobs
Median household income
$74,525
Population change (1 year)
+0.7%
Unemployment rate
5.1%
Show 4 more
Population
20,533
Income adjusted for cost of living
$84,304
Net moves in (IRS)
+210
Cost of living (US = 100)
88.4
Schools, risk and environment
School rating (1 to 10)
8.6
FEMA hazard risk score (0 to 100)
36.9
Flood risk score
46.7
Show 3 more
Wildfire risk score
43.5
Walkability (1 to 20)
5.6
Road, rail and air noise
56 dB
Questions people ask
Is Polk County, NC overvalued?
Home prices in Polk County, NC are slightly above what local incomes have historically supported: fair value is about $301,410, so the area is 1.7% overvalued.
Is Polk County, NC a buyer's or seller's market?
Polk County, NC is a balanced market, leaning toward buyers: homes take about 96 days to sell, listings are down 6% from a year ago, 19% of listings have had a price cut.
Are home prices going down in Polk County, NC?
Home values in Polk County, NC are down 3.0% over the last year.
How much do you need to earn to buy a home in Polk County, NC?
A household needs about $66,475 a year to afford the typical home in Polk County, NC at today's 7.18% mortgage rate (20% down, payment at 30% of income); the median household earns $74,525.