United States › Missouri › Polk County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Polk County Missouri · 31,519 residents · 636 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 31,519 people, Polk County is a county in Missouri. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. The typical home is worth $141,600, having more than doubled since 2000. Renters pay $696 a month at the median. Owners hold 70% of the housing stock.
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
21% 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 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K 24K 27K 30K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $47,614
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,656 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $13,645 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.6%
Public administration 3.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$141,600
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$696
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $391 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 72.8% in 2000
30.3% rent
2.57 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.56 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.9 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 96.4%(26,024)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(350)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 91%(28,682)
Hispanic / Latino 2.5%(791)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 77.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 57.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 14.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 31.1%(3,960)
Women 15+
Never married 24.1%(3,235)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.4% 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) 20.4%(395)
Gulf War (1990s) 16.4%(318)
Share of the 1,940 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
Dallas County
Income $53,464 +12%
Home value $190,300 +34%
Population 18,025 −46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Hickory County
Income $39,390 −17%
Home value $176,100 +24%
Population 9,044 −73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income $61,479 +29%
Home value $221,300 +56%
Population 309,286 +820%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Cedar County
Income $48,181 +1%
Home value $168,100 +19%
Population 14,888 −56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, Missouri? Polk County, Missouri has about 31,519 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Missouri? The typical household in Polk County, Missouri earns about $47,614 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 $141,600, and the typical rent is about $696 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, Missouri? About 20.6% 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 15.7% 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 9,693 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.
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