United States › Missouri › Polk County COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS
Polk County Missouri · 26,992 residents · 636 sq mi
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The short version
With 26,992 people, Polk County is a county in Missouri. About 15% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The population is up 24% since 1990. Households here earn about 22% less than in Missouri as a whole. The typical home is worth $77,600, having more than doubled since 1990. Renters pay $391 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.0
US median: 35.2
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 33.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K 24K 27K 30K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $29,656
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $18,672 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $8,873 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 20.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$77,600
+49%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $39,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$391
+14%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $261 in 1990
US average: $602
from 73.5% in 1990
27.2% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 98.1%(21,419)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(244)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.4%(26,024)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(350)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 12.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 67.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 4.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 27.8 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 married 24.2%(2,449)
Women 15+
Never married 19.9%(2,232)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 14.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 45.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 19.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 59.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 37.7% 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) 21.8%(460)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.2%(532)
Share of the 2,109 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 Head to head
Compare Polk County to nearby counties POLK COUNTY VS
Dallas County
Income $53,464 +80%
Home value $190,300 +145%
Population 18,025 −46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Hickory County
Income $39,390 +33%
Home value $176,100 +127%
Population 9,044 −73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income $61,479 +107%
Home value $221,300 +185%
Population 309,286 +820%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Cedar County
Income $48,181 +62%
Home value $168,100 +117%
Population 14,888 −56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, Missouri? Polk County, Missouri has about 26,992 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Missouri? The typical household in Polk County, Missouri earns about $29,656 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Polk County, Missouri expensive? In Polk County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $77,600, and the typical rent is about $391 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, Missouri? About 14.6% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Missouri? About 16.3% of people in Polk County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.
Has Polk County, Missouri grown since 1990? Yes, Polk County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,166 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.
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