Polk County
TX · Pop. 51,780 · Suburban County
Polk County is a suburban county in Texas, spanning 1,057 square miles with 51,780 residents at a density of 49 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $154,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.04% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 265-day growing season, average summer highs of 93°F and average winter lows of 41.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 51.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. CHI St Lukes Health - Memorial Livingston is 7.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 91.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 265-day growing season in USDA zone 9a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A median home price of $154,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 91.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- CHI St Lukes Health - Memorial Livingston, with an emergency room, is just 7.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 51.5 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A poverty rate of 18.1% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Polk County, TX is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 80/100
- Median home price
- $154k
- Property tax
- 1.04%
- Growing season
- 265 days (zone 9a)
- Annual rainfall
- 51.5"
- Broadband
- 91.1%
- Nearest hospital
- CHI St Lukes Health - Memorial Livingston, 7.1 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Polk County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Polk County?
- Polk County is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 265-day growing season, average summer highs of 93°F, and average winter lows of 41.2°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $154,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.04%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 91.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- CHI St Lukes Health - Memorial Livingston is 7.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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