COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Polk County

Nebraska · 5,675 residents · 439 sq mi

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The short version

With 5,675 people, Polk County is a county in Nebraska. The median age is 38.9, about 6 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $30,500. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. Getting to work takes 33 minutes on average. Renters pay $247 a month at the median.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 38.9

US median: 33.0

Less educated

12% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 37%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

5,675

+1%vs 2000

vs 5,639 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

38.9

−7%vs 2000

vs 41.6 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

439 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20245K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 56.1%(344)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 98.6%(487)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 147.4%(422)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 196.3%(360)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 243%(169)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3412.1%(689)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4414.1%(799)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 549.1%(517)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6410.3%(584)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7410.9%(617)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 848.5%(480)

US avg: 4%

85 and over3.6%(207)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$25,959

−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $37,819 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$11,377

−37%vs 2000

vs $17,934 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

8.3%

+2.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 5.8% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$30,500

−37%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $63,300 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$247

−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $387 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

76.3%

−0.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 77.2% in 2000

23.7% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic98.3%(5,543)

Black0%(1)

Hispanic / Latino1.1%(61)

Asian0.1%(5)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.8%(5,661)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino0.2%(12)

Asian0%(1)

Other0.2%(13)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican5%(259)

South American0.3%(14)

Ecuadorian0.2%(12)

Cuban0.2%(9)

Puerto Rican0.1%(5)

Colombian0%(2)

Central American0%(1)

Guatemalan0%(1)

Asian origin

Chinese0.2%(11)

Ancestry

German37.1%(1,940)

Swedish15%(786)

Irish8.6%(447)

English7.7%(403)

Polish6.8%(357)

Czech5.7%(299)

American2.5%(133)

French2.1%(108)

Dutch2%(107)

Italian1.6%(81)

Norwegian1.3%(70)

Danish1.1%(59)

+ 13 more ancestry groups with data

Greek0.8%(44)

Scotch-Irish0.8%(40)

Swiss0.7%(34)

Scottish0.4%(22)

Austrian0.3%(18)

British0.3%(17)

Welsh0.2%(10)

Russian0.2%(8)

Subsaharan African0.1%(5)

Canadian0.1%(3)

French Canadian0%(2)

Hungarian0%(2)

Ukrainian0%(2)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Swedish population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

12.4%

−1.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 13.5% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

81.0%

−5.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 86.6% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

3.2%

−0.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 3.9% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

33.1 min

+137%vs 2000

vs 14.0 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married29.4%(648)

Married57.8%(1,275)

Widowed3.5%(77)

Divorced9.3%(205)

Women 15+

Never married19.1%(405)

Married62%(1,314)

Widowed11.6%(245)

Divorced7.4%(157)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

5.5%

−2.8 ptssince 2013

from 8.3% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

51.4%

+1.6 ptssince 2020

from 49.8% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

25.4%

+2.8 ptssince 2020

from 22.6% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

23.1%

+0.2 ptssince 2020

from 22.9% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

12.8%

+1.7 ptssince 2020

from 11.1% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

3.4%

−0.3 ptssince 2020

from 3.7% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

74.6%

+3.2 ptssince 2020

from 71.4% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

34.3%

+1.4 ptssince 2020

from 32.9% 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)15.6%(47)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)13.6%(41)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era42.5%(128)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War15.3%(46)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II1%(3)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 301 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

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