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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Polk County

Arkansas · 20,229 residents · 856.838 sq mi
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The short version

Polk County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $25,180. Population has grown 17% since 1990. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $57,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,229
+17%since 1990
from 17,347 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
24 / sq mi
+17%since 1990
from 20 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
38.6
+1%since 1990
from 38.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K19K20K21K1990201020202024Polk County
202419K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$25,180
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $17,789 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,063
+58%since 1990
from $8,884 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
18.2%
−0.3 ptssince 1990
from 18.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$57,500
+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $35,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$361
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $255 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
78.4%
+2.2 ptssince 1990
from 76.2% in 1990
21.6% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+14%since 1990
from 2.0 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic98.4%(17,063)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(360)
Asian0.3%(53)
Diversity Score8.9%(1,536)
2000
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(18,836)
Black0.2%(32)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(708)
Asian0.2%(42)
Diversity Score9.6%(1,943)
Diversity Score
10
+8%since 1990
from 9 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.9%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 9.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
72.6%
+10.1 ptssince 1990
from 62.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
4.3%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 3.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.5 min
−36%since 1990
from 21.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Polk County

Holmes County
Pop 20,119
Madison County
Pop 18,759
Taylor County
Pop 21,210
Randolph County
Pop 18,876
Places similar to Polk County
Head to head

Compare Polk County to nearby counties

POLK COUNTY VS
Scott County
Income$43,270+72%
Home value$115,000+100%
Population9,965−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income$45,603+81%
Home value$153,900+168%
Population12,306−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income$48,906+94%
Home value$151,900+164%
Population8,579−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Sevier County
Income$53,527+113%
Home value$117,600+105%
Population15,758−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, Arkansas?

Polk County, Arkansas has about 20,229 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Polk County, Arkansas?

The typical household in Polk County, Arkansas earns about $25,180 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Polk County, Arkansas expensive?

In Polk County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $57,500, and the typical rent is about $361 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, Arkansas?

About 10.9% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Arkansas?

About 18.2% of people in Polk County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Polk County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Polk County, Arkansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,882 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9505
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 71953ZIP 71937ZIP 71945ZIP 71944ZIP 71973ZIP 71972
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →