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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Polk County

Iowa · 492,401 residents · 572.381 sq mi
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The short version

Polk County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $69,747. Population has grown 31% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $190,400.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.0
US median: 38.8
More educated
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
492,401
+31%since 2000
from 374,601 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
860 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 654 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
36.0
+5%since 2000
from 34.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
310K362K415K468K521K1990201020202024Polk County
2024503K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,747
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,116 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,290
+53%since 2000
from $23,654 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
46.2%
+11.7 ptssince 2009
from 34.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
10.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Other services15.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration13.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Information11.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8.5%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$190,400
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$938
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $574 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
65.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 68.8% in 2000
34.3% rent
Afford Score
2.7
+26%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.4%(323,785)
Black4.8%(17,874)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(16,490)
Asian2.6%(9,765)
Other0%
Diversity Score27.6%(103,215)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic73.6%(362,260)
Black7.1%(34,990)
Hispanic / Latino9.8%(48,055)
Asian4.9%(24,313)
Other3%(14,708)
Diversity Score52.8%(259,765)
Segregation Score36.4%(179,112)
Diversity Score
53
+91%since 2000
from 28 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
36
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.6%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 29.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 88.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.6 min
+83%since 2000
from 10.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
71.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 73.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
42.6%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
9.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.6%
−87.1 ptssince 2013
from 91.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+47%
Home value$355,600+87%
Population118,457−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$94,588+36%
Home value$269,600+42%
Population57,331−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Story County
Income$69,685same
Home value$258,700+36%
Population101,291−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Jasper County
Income$71,311+2%
Home value$186,300−2%
Population38,153−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, Iowa?

Polk County, Iowa has about 492,401 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Polk County, Iowa earns about $69,747 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 $190,400, and the typical rent is about $938 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, Iowa?

About 37.6% 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 10.4% 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 165,261 residents, a change of about 51 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

112 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 102.16Census Tract 101.02Census Tract 102.14Census Tract 102.05Census Tract 108.05Census Tract 115Census Tract 113.03Census Tract 106.02Census Tract 51.01Census Tract 110.27Census Tract 105Census Tract 107.02Census Tract 102.15Census Tract 107.08Census Tract 114.06Census Tract 102.09Census Tract 108.04Census Tract 8.01Census Tract 101.01Census Tract 117.03
33 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 50023ZIP 50317ZIP 50315ZIP 50265ZIP 50322ZIP 50310ZIP 50021ZIP 50320ZIP 50131ZIP 50009ZIP 50325ZIP 50313ZIP 50111ZIP 50316ZIP 50312ZIP 50311ZIP 50327ZIP 50314ZIP 50035ZIP 50309ZIP 50321ZIP 50226ZIP 50324ZIP 50169ZIP 50237ZIP 50109ZIP 50161ZIP 50244ZIP 50073ZIP 50032
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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