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COUNTY

Polk County

Wisconsin · 45,803 residents (2025 est.) · 914.32 sq mi
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The short version

Polk County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $77,219. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $271,900. With a median age of 46.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
45,555
+10%since 2000
from 41,319 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
50 / sq mi
+3%since 2009
from 48 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
46.7
+21%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:45,803 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
34K37K40K43K47K1990201020202024Polk County
202446K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.5%(2,061)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(2,371)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(2,756)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(2,743)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.5%(2,064)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.2%(4,630)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.7%(5,345)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.3%(5,625)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.8%(7,655)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.9%(6,342)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.9%(3,149)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(814)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,219
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,183 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,288
+116%since 2000
from $19,129 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.3%
+24.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.408
+3%since 2010
from 0.395 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$271,900
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$957
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
19.0% rent
Vacancy rate
20.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.4%
−13.5 ptssince 2009
from 34.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.6%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 42.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+5%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
49
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Polk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.1%(40,131)
Black0.1%(56)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(329)
Asian0.3%(105)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93%(42,344)
Black0.2%(105)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(1,008)
Asian0.5%(207)
Other4.2%(1,891)
Diversity Score
17
+91%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
−22%since 2020
from 22 in 2020
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
Mexican1.5%(672)
Puerto Rican0.3%(122)
Cuban0.1%(55)
Colombian0.1%(33)
Asian origin
Hmong0.1%(64)
Filipino0.1%(61)
Korean0.1%(26)
Japanese0.1%(25)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German33.9%(15,443)
Norwegian14.3%(6,502)
Swedish10.2%(4,651)
Irish9.9%(4,530)
English7.1%(3,213)
American4.7%(2,127)
French3.3%(1,506)
Polish3.1%(1,414)
Danish2.8%(1,291)
Italian2.8%(1,282)
Czech1.2%(525)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.1%(494)
Scottish0.9%(419)
Finnish0.8%(346)
Russian0.4%(192)
Hungarian0.4%(175)
Swiss0.3%(151)
Welsh0.3%(139)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(112)
Belgian0.2%(94)
Austrian0.2%(93)
Arab0.2%(83)
Croatian0.1%(57)
British0.1%(54)
Ukrainian0.1%(35)
Lebanese0.1%(34)
Slovak0.1%(32)
Canadian0.1%(31)
Greek0.1%(31)
Slovene0.1%(29)
Nigerian0.1%(25)
Syrian0%(21)
Jamaican0%(17)
Latvian0%(14)
Serbian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Swedish population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.3%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.1%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 85.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.8 min
+32%since 2000
from 22.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.8%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.1%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 66.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.4%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.8%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.2%
−83.3 ptssince 2013
from 89.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+16.1 ptssince 2017
from 72.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 97.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.5%(5,551)
Married56.2%(10,937)
Widowed3.1%(600)
Divorced12.2%(2,365)
Women 15+
Never married20.4%(3,853)
Married58.4%(11,038)
Widowed8.1%(1,538)
Divorced13.1%(2,485)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Polk County to nearby counties

POLK COUNTY VS
Chisago County
Income$99,400+29%
Home value$351,900+29%
Population59,142+29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Burnett County
Income$62,819−19%
Home value$231,300−15%
Population17,223−62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Barron County
Income$65,933−15%
Home value$216,600−20%
Population46,484+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
St. Croix County
Income$103,046+33%
Home value$377,700+39%
Population98,276+115%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Polk County, Wisconsin?

Polk County, Wisconsin has about 45,555 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Polk County, Wisconsin earns about $77,219 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Polk County, Wisconsin expensive?

In Polk County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $271,900, and the typical rent is about $957 a month.

How educated are people in Polk County, Wisconsin?

About 24.3% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Wisconsin?

About 8.2% of people in Polk County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Polk County, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Polk County, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,782 residents, a change of about 31 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

14 census tracts
Census Tract 9608Census Tract 9610Census Tract 9611Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9607.01Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9609.01Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9609.02Census Tract 9606Census Tract 9603.02Census Tract 9607.02Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9603.03
14 ZIP codes
ZIP 54001ZIP 54020ZIP 54024ZIP 54837ZIP 54853ZIP 54005ZIP 54810ZIP 54889ZIP 54009ZIP 54026ZIP 54824ZIP 54858ZIP 54826ZIP 54006
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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