Eviction Risk Score
Very Low
#83
of 100 NC counties
3.7 / 10
#83 of 100 counties in North Carolina for landlord eviction risk.
County brief·Updated June 3, 2026
Polk County, North Carolina Eviction Risk: Low
4 incorporated cities and unincorporated areas. The county Eviction Risk Score is held aloft by the city of Tryon (3.8) and a small number of dense urban cores. Rent-control coverage varies by city.
In 2026
Risk score
3.7
LOW
Ranked #83 of 100 NC counties
4k residents · 4 cities · 8 tracts
1976–2026 · pop-weighted from cities
Polk County eviction risk score history
Min1.8
Average3.0
Now3.7
Key metrics
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Tenant beats landlord22.1%/ 100 outcomesIn court-decided eviction outcomes for Polk County, NC, tenants prevail in roughly 22.1% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses and longer calendars.
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Timeline44dfiling → judgmentFrom the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Polk County, NC until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 44 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent for landlords.
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Cost range$1.4–4.7klegal + lost rentA typical eviction in Polk County, NC costs landlords $1,447 to $4,663 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent.
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Average rent$1,14930% stretched on rentAverage gross rent in Polk County, NC is $1,149 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey. 30% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent.
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Renters36.7%of households36.7% of occupied housing units in Polk County, NC are renter-occupied. A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings and a more active rental market.
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Poverty22.2%3.9% unemp.22.2% of Polk County, NC residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 3.9%. Both feed the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
How Polk County ranks in North Carolina
Cost of living
Moderate
#31
of 51 states (statewide)
94.3 index
North Carolina ranks #31 of 51 states on overall cost of living (5.7% cheaper than the U.S. avg).
Housing services cost
Moderate
#30
of 51 states (statewide)
81.4 index
North Carolina ranks #30 of 51 states on housing services (18.6% cheaper than the U.S. avg).
Income spent on rent
Low
#69
of 100 NC counties
28.5% of income
#69 of 100 counties in North Carolina on % of income spent on rent.
Cities in Polk County
Sorted by Eviction Risk Score · highest first
| City↕ | Population↕ | Risk↕ | % income on rent↕ | Average rent↕ | Lean↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Tryon | 1,810 | 3.8 | 28.1% | $1,288 | Rep |
| 002 | Columbus | 1,071 | 3.7 | 26.7% | $788 | Rep |
| 003 | Saluda | 683 | 3.6 | 45.4% | $1,263 | Rep |
| 004 | Chimney Rock Village | 122 | 2.3 | 13.7% | $1,617 | Rep |
County heatmap
Local landlord context
One county, multiple regulatory regimes.
Polk County spans 4 cities serving approximately 3,686 residents. The average landlord eviction risk across the county is 3.7/10. The county voted Republican by 25.7 points in 2020.
Risk varies city-by-city. The table above shows exact scores, population, and average rent for every municipality. Click any city for the full sub-score breakdown, including local political climate, rent-control exposure, tenant organizing strength, and typical eviction cost and timeline.
Eviction filings in Polk County
In June 2023, 2 eviction filings were recorded in Polk County — 33.3% of the historical average (below average).1
- 2Jun 2023
- 33.3%of historical avg
- 2,038Renter households
- 13.7%Poverty rate
Last 24 months of filings
2021-07 — 2023-06
Historical eviction filings in Polk County
From 2000 to 2018, eviction filings in Polk County increased 19%. The peak was 68 filings in 2003.2
- 422000
- 68Peak (2003)
- 502018
Annual filings 2000–2018
Data unavailable after 2018 due to California sealed records law
Data covers 2000–2018. California courts sealed eviction records beginning in 2019 under AB 2819, ending statewide tracking.
Peer counties in North Carolina
Peer county
Pamlico County eviction risk
3.7
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 5.0K
Peer county
Ashe County eviction risk
3.4
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 3.5K
Peer county
Stokes County eviction risk
3.7
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 11.3K
Peer county
Cherokee County eviction risk
4
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 4.1K
Where eviction risk concentrates in Polk County
Top cities by population
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Polk County
Q1
How does Polk County compare to North Carolina statewide?
Polk County averages 3.7/10. Use the North Carolina overview link in the breadcrumb above for statewide comparison.
Q2
Is 30.4% rent-to-income ratio high for Polk County?
30.4% is above the 30% federal threshold.
Q3
Where can I see all cities in Polk County?
The city grid above lists every municipality in Polk County with its risk score and population.