With 45,555 people, Polk County is a county in Wisconsin. The median age is 46.7, about 8 years above the US median. Few US counties rank higher on income. Owners hold 81% of the housing stock. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. About 24% of adults have finished a four-year degree.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $77,219, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Polk County
What changed most since 1990
White share98.6% → 93.0%(−5.6 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Median age34.6 → 46.7(+12.1 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Median home value (2024 dollars)$128,404 → $271,900(+112%)US over the same years: +67%
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)18.3%(521)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.1%(485)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era40.9%(1,163)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.9%(112)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.9%(26)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,842 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
Over time
Polk County, decade by decade
Polk County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
34,773
$58,242
$128,404
11.4%
3.6
2000
41,319
$75,021
$182,530
15.6%
7.0
2010
44,205
$71,649
$244,989
18.4%
9.5
2020
44,977
$74,921
$214,652
22.6%
17.0
2024
45,555
$77,219
$271,900
24.3%
16.7
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
