United States › Arkansas › Polk County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Polk County Arkansas · 19,221 residents · 857 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 19,221 people, Polk County is a county in Arkansas. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 15% of adults. The median age is 45.2, about 6 years above the US median. Owners hold 77% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $103,700, having more than doubled since 2000. The poverty rate is 22.2%, above the 12.8% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 45.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 18K 19K 20K 21K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $39,084
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,180 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $14,063 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Public administration 1.6%
Education & health services 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
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$103,700
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$657
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 78.4% in 2000
23.0% rent
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 93.1%(18,836)
Hispanic / Latino 3.5%(708)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 83.7%(16,092)
Hispanic / Latino 6.6%(1,278)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 54.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 21.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 23.7%(1,790)
Women 15+
Never married 21.1%(1,752)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 21.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 4.7%(82)
Gulf War (1990s) 16.3%(284)
Share of the 1,740 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Polk County Head to head
Compare Polk County to nearby counties POLK COUNTY VS
Scott County
Income $43,270 +11%
Home value $115,000 +11%
Population 9,965 −49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income $45,603 +17%
Home value $153,900 +48%
Population 12,306 −37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income $48,906 +25%
Home value $151,900 +46%
Population 8,579 −56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Sevier County
Income $53,527 +37%
Home value $117,600 +13%
Population 15,758 −19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, Arkansas? Polk County, Arkansas has about 19,221 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Arkansas? The typical household in Polk County, Arkansas earns about $39,084 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 $103,700, and the typical rent is about $657 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, Arkansas? About 15.3% 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 22.2% 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 1,874 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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