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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Polk County

Minnesota · 31,192 residents · 1,971 sq mi
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The short version

With 31,192 people, Polk County is a county in Minnesota. The foreign-born share is 4%. 72% of homes are owner-occupied. Getting to work takes 18 minutes on average. The typical home is worth $169,100, having more than doubled since 2000. Median rent is $691 a month.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
31,192
−1%since 2000
from 31,369 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.3
+3%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1,971 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
31K31K32K32K33K19902000201020202024Polk County
202431K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.5%(2,012)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97%(2,170)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.1%(2,227)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197%(2,193)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(1,723)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.4%(3,541)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.9%(3,705)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.7%(3,325)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414%(4,364)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.7%(3,324)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.6%(1,751)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.7%(857)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,682
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,105 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,828
+73%since 2000
from $17,279 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
39.5%
+16.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction7.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$169,100
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$691
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $396 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
72.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
27.9% rent
Persons per household
2.38 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.9
+22%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-Hispanic92.4%(28,994)
Black0.3%(86)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(1,502)
Asian0.3%(91)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic85.1%(26,538)
Black3.1%(958)
Hispanic / Latino6.4%(1,999)
Asian0.5%(156)
Other4.3%(1,342)
Segregation Score
26
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.5%(1,425)
Salvadoran0.3%(93)
Cuban0.3%(91)
Colombian0.2%(74)
Bolivian0.2%(59)
Spaniard0.2%(54)
Puerto Rican0.2%(53)
Ecuadorian0.1%(20)
Venezuelan0.1%(18)
Chilean0%(8)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Chinese0.6%(196)
Korean0.1%(32)
Filipino0.1%(32)
Asian Indian0.1%(30)
Hmong0%(4)
Laotian0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
Norwegian34.8%(10,913)
German25.8%(8,111)
Swedish7%(2,186)
French6.3%(1,976)
Irish6%(1,877)
English4%(1,266)
Polish3%(934)
American2.2%(703)
Czech1.9%(600)
Russian1.7%(523)
Dutch1.7%(521)
+ 38 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.8%(255)
Italian0.7%(228)
Iraqi0.7%(221)
Danish0.7%(206)
Finnish0.5%(155)
Lebanese0.5%(142)
Somali0.5%(142)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(103)
Turkish0.3%(94)
Austrian0.2%(56)
Welsh0.2%(55)
Ukrainian0.2%(54)
Australian0.2%(51)
Swiss0.1%(47)
Nigerian0.1%(46)
Brazilian0.1%(41)
Croatian0.1%(38)
Hungarian0.1%(35)
Arab0.1%(34)
Serbian0.1%(34)
Slovak0.1%(33)
British0.1%(23)
Canadian0.1%(23)
Armenian0%(15)
Belgian0%(15)
Greek0%(7)
Iranian0%(5)
Syrian0%(4)
Slovene0%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.3%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.2%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
+51%since 2000
from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
78.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 77.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
78.2%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
35.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 31.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2013
from 8.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
87.9%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
87.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married33.2%(4,174)
Married54.4%(6,839)
Widowed2.6%(331)
Divorced9.8%(1,227)
Women 15+
Never married26%(3,127)
Married55.2%(6,631)
Widowed10.2%(1,220)
Divorced8.6%(1,037)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
3.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2013
from 8.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
56.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
18.2%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
19.9%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
21.1%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
72.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
39.0%
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)11.7%(226)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)14.4%(278)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era46.8%(906)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War11%(213)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.8%(16)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,936 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

Morgan County
Pop 30,306
Peach County
Pop 29,877
White County
Pop 29,802
Haralson County
Pop 33,066
Places similar to Polk County
Head to head

Compare Polk County to nearby counties

POLK COUNTY VS
Red Lake County
Income$77,188+32%
Home value$162,000−4%
Population3,940−87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Pennington County
Income$77,325+32%
Home value$195,500+16%
Population13,686−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Norman County
Income$72,260+23%
Home value$147,100−13%
Population6,336−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income$72,543+24%
Home value$164,500−3%
Population8,798−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, Minnesota?

Polk County, Minnesota has about 31,192 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Polk County, Minnesota earns about $58,682 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Polk County, Minnesota expensive?

In Polk County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $169,100, and the typical rent is about $691 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, Minnesota?

About 27.3% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Minnesota?

About 11.8% of people in Polk County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Polk County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Polk County, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,306 residents, a change of about -4 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 →