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CITY

Polk City

Iowa · 6,630 residents (2025 est.) · 5.636 sq mi
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The short version

Polk City is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $164,389. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 3,693 residents. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $414,800. It ranks in the top 1% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 119% more than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 107%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,037
+158%since 2000
from 2,344 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,071 / sq mi
+96%since 2009
from 548 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.1
+15%since 2000
from 34.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,630 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K3K4K5K6K1990201020202024Polk City
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(340)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.6%(521)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.3%(564)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197%(422)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 241.6%(94)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.2%(736)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(762)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5415.6%(940)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413%(784)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(712)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.2%(133)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.5%(29)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$164,389
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,000 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$56,351
+140%since 2000
from $23,476 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
69.8%
+18.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.7%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.373
+11%since 2010
from 0.337 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services14.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration13.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade10.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$414,800
+107%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $109,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$782
−31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $619 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
89.1%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 81.7% in 2000
10.9% rent
Vacancy rate
2.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.5%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+24%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
70
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(2,292)
Black0.3%(7)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(16)
Asian0.3%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.2%(5,808)
Black0.2%(10)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(152)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.1%(67)
Diversity Score
9
−9%since 2009
from 10 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.3%(140)
Spaniard0.2%(12)
Ancestry
German38.4%(2,316)
English14.2%(858)
Irish12.8%(772)
Scottish4.9%(296)
Norwegian4.5%(272)
American3.5%(213)
Danish2.9%(178)
French2.9%(177)
Polish2.9%(175)
Italian2.6%(155)
Swedish2.5%(152)
Dutch2.1%(128)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Czech1.4%(85)
Welsh0.9%(55)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(48)
British0.4%(25)
Belgian0.2%(13)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population · Largest Norwegian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
44.2%
+17.9 ptssince 2000
from 26.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.4%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 90.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.1%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.3 min
+83%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.0%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.6%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
21.9%
+16.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 3.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
72.9%
−10.0 ptssince 2011
from 82.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
51.9%
−18.9 ptssince 2009
from 70.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
48.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−44.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 5.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.3%
−89.5 ptssince 2013
from 93.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.0%
+9.4 ptssince 2017
from 84.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married21.2%(537)
Married66.9%(1,692)
Widowed1.2%(30)
Divorced10.7%(270)
Women 15+
Never married10.1%(210)
Married73.3%(1,526)
Widowed8%(166)
Divorced8.7%(181)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Polk City to nearby cities

POLK CITY VS
Johnston
Income$106,551−35%
Home value$369,100−11%
Population25,065+278%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK CITY VS
Ankeny
Income$108,198−34%
Home value$331,000−20%
Population77,833+1074%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK CITY VS
Grimes
Income$120,037−27%
Home value$304,700−27%
Population17,405+163%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK CITY VS
Urbandale
Income$112,795−31%
Home value$335,500−19%
Population48,570+633%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk City, Iowa?

Polk City, Iowa has about 6,037 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Polk City, Iowa?

The typical household in Polk City, Iowa earns about $164,389 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Polk City, Iowa expensive?

In Polk City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $414,800, and the typical rent is about $782 a month.

How educated are people in Polk City, Iowa?

About 44.2% of adults age 25 and over in Polk City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Polk City, Iowa?

About 6.7% of people in Polk City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Polk City, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Polk City, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,129 residents, a change of about 216 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →