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Ranks #1 for public schools in the state, according to statistics from Niche.com

 

POLK COUNTY––According to data from Niche.com, a website that ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and expert insights, Polk County ranked the fourth best county to retire in North Carolina.

The statistics consider the cost of living, health care facilities, weather and climate, crime rate, and other factors that retirees might consider prior to moving.

Statistics from the website state that Polk County ranks #1 in North Carolina for “Counties with the Best Public Schools in North Carolina,” #21 for “Best Counties for Families in North Carolina,” and #22 for “Best Places to Buy a House in North Carolina.”

The data shows that 31% of Polk County residents are at least 65 years of age or older, and 17% of residents are between the ages of 55 and 46.

The Town of Tryon was deemed one of the top places to live in Polk County, graded A by Niche.com, based on data sources. 

Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples says that Polk County is the best county to retire in “because Tryon is in this county.”

He goes on to say, “There are numerous reasons (that our area ranks so high). We have what people want; small towns, communities, people who support each other. There are amenities here. You want history? Columbus, Saluda, and Tryon are full of history. You want lakes, you’ve got lakes, walking trails, and even international connections to horses.”

Mayor Peoples names off the city-like amenities that Polk County has, such as a modern theater, the Tryon Fine Arts Center, and art galleries.

“I think we’re a magnet for people who want the amenities they have in the city. We don’t have all the negatives that go into having a big city,” he says. “It’s a slow life.”