CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Polk County

Missouri · 31,519 residents · 635.527 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Springfield metro area
Compare
The short version

Polk County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,614. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $141,600.

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

Total population
31,519
+17%since 2000
from 26,992 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
50 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 42 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.3
+12%since 2000
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K24K27K30K34K1990201020202024Polk County
202432K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,614
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,656 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,591
+73%since 2000
from $13,645 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
28.3%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.1%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction5.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$141,600
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$696
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $391 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
69.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
30.3% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+14%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(26,024)
Black0.4%(119)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(350)
Asian0.2%(51)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.8%(1,302)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic91%(28,682)
Black0.8%(242)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(791)
Asian0.4%(131)
Other3%(938)
Diversity Score16.3%(5,131)
Segregation Score29.4%(9,259)
Diversity Score
16
+237%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
29
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.6%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.7%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 77.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+32%since 2000
from 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.5%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 57.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
33.8%
−28.5 ptssince 2009
from 62.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
14.0%
−71.6 ptssince 2013
from 85.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Polk County

Fulton County
Pop 32,901
Madison County
Pop 32,919
Christian County
Pop 33,443
Delta County
Pop 32,178
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%
Population18,025−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Hickory County
Income$39,390−17%
Home value$176,100+24%
Population9,044−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income$61,479+29%
Home value$221,300+56%
Population309,286+820%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Cedar County
Income$48,181+1%
Home value$168,100+19%
Population14,888−56%
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

8 census tracts
Census Tract 9604.02Census Tract 9603.02Census Tract 9602.02Census Tract 9601.02Census Tract 9604.01Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9601.01Census Tract 9602.01
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 65613ZIP 65674ZIP 65663ZIP 65725ZIP 65649ZIP 65617ZIP 65710ZIP 65640ZIP 65601ZIP 65727
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Missouri
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →