CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Polk County

Arkansas · 20,662 residents · 856.838 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Polk County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $32,525. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $79,300. With a median age of 43.1, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 37.2
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,662
+2%since 2000
from 20,229 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
24 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 24 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
43.1
+12%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K19K20K21K1990201020202024Polk County
202419K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,525
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,180 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,913
+20%since 2000
from $14,063 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
12.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
20.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.417
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade17.7%
US avg: 10.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Construction5.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Other services3%
US avg: 7%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$79,300
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,500 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$512
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
39.7%
−38.7 ptssince 2000
from 78.4% in 2000
22.8% rent
Vacancy rate
17.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
23.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.4
+7%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(18,836)
Black0.2%(32)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(708)
Asian0.2%(42)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.6%(1,943)
2010
White, non-Hispanic89.8%(18,549)
Black0.3%(54)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(1,190)
Asian0.4%(88)
Other4.1%(846)
Diversity Score24.3%(5,014)
Diversity Score
24
+153%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
80.4%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+47%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
81.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
15.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
23.8%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
51.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
15.4%
−33.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+33%
Home value$115,000+45%
Population9,965−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income$45,603+40%
Home value$153,900+94%
Population12,306−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income$48,906+50%
Home value$151,900+92%
Population8,579−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Sevier County
Income$53,527+65%
Home value$117,600+48%
Population15,758−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, Arkansas?

Polk County, Arkansas has about 20,662 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Polk County, Arkansas earns about $32,525 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 $79,300, and the typical rent is about $512 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, Arkansas?

About 10.0% 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 20.4% 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 3,315 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

Keep going

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
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Arkansas
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →