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NC Regular Public School District 7 Schools

Polk County Schools

Columbus, NC 28722 • Polk County • 7 Operating Schools
(828) 894-3051
Official Website

Community Population & Income Overview

Census 2023 • SAIPE 2024
Total Population
19,689
2,366 school-age (5-17)
Median Household Income
$61,005
Overall Poverty Rate
13.66%
2,643 people in poverty
Child Poverty Rate
17.33%
406 children in poverty

School-Age Child Poverty Trends (5-Year History)

Annual Census SAIPE estimates for school district children aged 5–17 in poverty

SAIPE 2020–2024
0% 6% 12% 18% 24% U.S. Baseline: 14.67% NC Avg: 15.62% 2020 Poverty Rate: 17.35% (430 / 2,478 kids) 17.35% 2020 430 kids 2021 Poverty Rate: 17.95% (425 / 2,368 kids) 17.95% 2021 425 kids 2022 Poverty Rate: 17.59% (417 / 2,371 kids) 17.59% 2022 417 kids 2023 Poverty Rate: 18.9% (438 / 2,317 kids) 18.9% 2023 438 kids 2024 Poverty Rate: 17.33% (406 / 2,343 kids) 17.33% 2024 406 kids
Census Vintage School-Age Children (5–17) Children in Poverty District Poverty Rate State Benchmark National Benchmark
2020 2,478 430 17.35% 16.61% 14.57%
2021 2,368 425 17.95% 16.85% 15.78%
2022 2,371 417 17.59% 16.18% 15.17%
2023 2,317 438 18.90% 16.64% 14.98%
2024 2,343 406 17.33% 15.62% 14.67%

Housing & Real Estate Context

Census 2023
Median Home Value $281,100
Median Gross Rent $1,089/mo
Owner-Occupied 6,689
Renter-Occupied 2,038
Owner-Occupied: 6,689 (76.6%) Renter-Occupied: 2,038 (23.4%)
Occupied 8,727

Housing Tenure Distribution

Ratio of owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied residential households

Owner-Occupied 6,689 (76.6%)
Renter-Occupied 2,038 (23.4%)

Household Income Distribution (16 Brackets)

Census 2023 • Total: 8,727 households
423 (4.8%)
< $10k
391 (4.5%)
$10k-$14k
483 (5.5%)
$15k-$19k
456 (5.2%)
$20k-$24k
395 (4.5%)
$25k-$29k
365 (4.2%)
$30k-$34k
364 (4.2%)
$35k-$39k
344 (3.9%)
$40k-$44k
424 (4.9%)
$45k-$49k
661 (7.6%)
$50k-$59k
792 (9.1%)
$60k-$74k
1,184 (13.6%)
$75k-$99k
726 (8.3%)
$100k-$124k
562 (6.4%)
$125k-$149k
563 (6.5%)
$150k-$199k
594 (6.8%)
$200k+
< $10k
423 (4.8%)
$10k-$14k
391 (4.5%)
$15k-$19k
483 (5.5%)
$20k-$24k
456 (5.2%)
$25k-$29k
395 (4.5%)
$30k-$34k
365 (4.2%)
$35k-$39k
364 (4.2%)
$40k-$44k
344 (3.9%)
$45k-$49k
424 (4.9%)
$50k-$59k
661 (7.6%)
$60k-$74k
792 (9.1%)
$75k-$99k
1,184 (13.6%)
$100k-$124k
726 (8.3%)
$125k-$149k
562 (6.4%)
$150k-$199k
563 (6.5%)
$200k+
594 (6.8%)

School-Age Grade Population Distribution

Census 2023 • Total: 2,173 students
124 (5.7%)
1st
157 (7.2%)
2nd
236 (10.9%)
3rd
205 (9.4%)
4th
251 (11.6%)
5th
130 (6%)
6th
154 (7.1%)
7th
179 (8.2%)
8th
224 (10.3%)
9th
88 (4%)
10th
198 (9.1%)
11th
227 (10.4%)
12th
1st Grade
124 (5.7%)
2nd Grade
157 (7.2%)
3rd Grade
236 (10.9%)
4th Grade
205 (9.4%)
5th Grade
251 (11.6%)
6th Grade
130 (6%)
7th Grade
154 (7.1%)
8th Grade
179 (8.2%)
9th Grade
224 (10.3%)
10th Grade
88 (4%)
11th Grade
198 (9.1%)
12th Grade
227 (10.4%)