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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Polk County

Iowa · 374,601 residents · 572 sq mi
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The short version

With 374,601 people, Polk County is a county in Iowa. The average commute runs 11 minutes. That is roughly 17% ahead of the Iowa median. About 30% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The population is up 15% since 1990. The poverty rate is 7.9%, under the national 12.4%.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 34.4
US median: 35.2
More educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
374,601
+15%since 1990
from 327,140 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
34.4
+6%since 1990
from 32.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
572 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
310K362K415K468K521K19902000201020202024Polk County
2024503K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.5%(27,955)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.3%(27,210)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.9%(25,945)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.7%(25,121)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.8%(25,448)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3415.8%(59,222)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4416.4%(61,277)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.5%(50,606)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648%(30,065)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.7%(21,485)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.9%(14,712)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.5%(5,555)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,116
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $31,221 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,654
+54%since 1990
from $15,365 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
7.9%
−1.3 ptssince 1990
from 9.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$100,100
+28%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $59,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$574
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $437 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
68.8%
+3.6 ptssince 1990
from 65.2% in 1990
31.2% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic92.8%(303,450)
Black4.4%(14,510)
Hispanic / Latino2%(6,452)
Asian1.7%(5,709)
2000
White, non-Hispanic86.4%(323,785)
Black4.8%(17,874)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(16,490)
Asian2.6%(9,765)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican7%(35,389)
Central American1.7%(8,515)
Salvadoran0.9%(4,692)
Puerto Rican0.6%(3,190)
Honduran0.4%(1,915)
South American0.3%(1,624)
Guatemalan0.3%(1,612)
Spaniard0.2%(1,033)
Cuban0.1%(720)
Colombian0.1%(550)
Ecuadorian0.1%(471)
Dominican0%(181)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Peruvian0%(177)
Venezuelan0%(172)
Nicaraguan0%(153)
Argentine0%(153)
Chilean0%(61)
Asian origin
Burmese0.9%(4,468)
Asian Indian0.8%(4,171)
Vietnamese0.6%(2,853)
Laotian0.5%(2,657)
Chinese0.4%(1,864)
Nepalese0.2%(1,246)
Korean0.2%(1,214)
Filipino0.2%(825)
Bhutanese0.1%(611)
Kazakh0.1%(574)
Thai0.1%(486)
Cambodian0.1%(321)
+ 8 more asian origin groups with data
Hmong0%(206)
Japanese0%(178)
Sri Lankan0%(124)
Malaysian0%(92)
Pakistani0%(33)
Taiwanese0%(23)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(80)
Samoan0%(65)
Tongan0%(15)
Ancestry
German24.5%(123,418)
Irish13.3%(66,949)
English11.8%(59,452)
Norwegian3.7%(18,785)
American3.3%(16,737)
Italian3.2%(16,108)
Dutch2.6%(13,123)
Swedish2.5%(12,383)
Scottish2%(9,998)
French1.4%(6,944)
Polish1.3%(6,587)
+ 47 more ancestry groups with data
Danish1.3%(6,313)
Czech0.8%(4,185)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(3,882)
Welsh0.7%(3,729)
British0.4%(2,073)
Russian0.4%(1,952)
Hungarian0.3%(1,324)
Somali0.3%(1,299)
West Indian0.2%(1,244)
Arab0.2%(1,199)
Swiss0.2%(1,187)
Croatian0.2%(1,142)
Ethiopian0.2%(1,041)
Austrian0.2%(841)
Nigerian0.2%(813)
Greek0.2%(758)
Jamaican0.1%(653)
Ukrainian0.1%(587)
Lithuanian0.1%(495)
Lebanese0.1%(456)
Latvian0.1%(451)
Haitian0.1%(426)
Belgian0.1%(409)
Canadian0.1%(322)
Egyptian0.1%(308)
Finnish0.1%(305)
Kenyan0.1%(257)
Romanian0%(240)
Slovak0%(228)
Ghanaian0%(190)
Iraqi0%(187)
Serbian0%(182)
Portuguese0%(176)
Slovene0%(144)
Turkish0%(130)
Bulgarian0%(96)
Iranian0%(88)
Brazilian0%(86)
Israeli0%(42)
Armenian0%(32)
Jordanian0%(19)
Syrian0%(18)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.7%
+5.8 ptssince 1990
from 23.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
88.3%
+2.9 ptssince 1990
from 85.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.7%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 7.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.7 min
−36%since 1990
from 16.9 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.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.9%(39,059)
Married60.6%(84,907)
Widowed2%(2,865)
Divorced9.4%(13,169)
Women 15+
Never married23.7%(36,336)
Married55.3%(84,916)
Widowed8.6%(13,164)
Divorced12.5%(19,222)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
5.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2013
from 8.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
61.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 63.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 12.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
15.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
20.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 20.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.1%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 74.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 33.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)26.6%(5,689)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.9%(4,903)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era28.8%(6,165)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.4%(943)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(220)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 21,413 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Polk County

Sarasota County
Pop 479,958
Ramsey County
Pop 541,623
Seminole County
Pop 491,884
York County
Pop 473,197
Places similar to Polk County
Head to head

Compare Polk County to nearby counties

POLK COUNTY VS
Dallas County
Income$102,379+122%
Home value$355,600+255%
Population118,457−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$94,588+105%
Home value$269,600+169%
Population57,331−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Story County
Income$69,685+51%
Home value$258,700+158%
Population101,291−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Jasper County
Income$71,311+55%
Home value$186,300+86%
Population38,153−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, Iowa?

Polk County, Iowa has about 374,601 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Polk County, Iowa earns about $46,116 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Polk County, Iowa expensive?

In Polk County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $100,100, and the typical rent is about $574 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, Iowa?

About 29.7% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Iowa?

About 7.9% of people in Polk County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Polk County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Polk County, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 47,461 residents, a change of about 15 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 →