At a Glance
Median Income
$163,000
$56,787 per capita
Home Value
$385,000
Zillow: $419,774
Median Rent
$746/mo
27.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
20/100K
499/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
47.2%
98.1% high school+
Unemployment
1.6%
4.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.2%
10.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Polk City Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Polk City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Polk City a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Polk City residents earn a median household income of $163,000 , which is 117% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $56,787. The unemployment rate stands at 1.6% (56% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 20,581 business establishments, including 1,227 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Polk City is $385,000 , 37% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $419,774. Median rent is $746/month, with 27.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 2005.
Safety & Crime
Polk City reports 20 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 95% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 499/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
47.2% of adults in Polk City hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(40% above the national average).
98.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Polk City has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 36.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 45.
Data Overview
People
Population5,833
Median Age37.0 yrs
Density1,049/mi²
Male / Female52% / 48%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.3%
Economy
A+
Median Income$163,000
Per Capita$56,787
Unemployment1.6%
Poverty4.8%
County GDP$63,823M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,395
Housing
A+
Home Value$385,000
Rent$746
Ownership90.0%
Zillow$419,774
Housing Units2,059
Rent Burden27.5%
Crime
F
Violent20/100K
Property499/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault20/100K
Burglary40/100K
Health
Obesity34.2%
Diabetes7.7%
Smoking10.7%
Heart Disease4.6%
Premature Death7,653/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain36.2 in/yr
AQI45 (Good)
Elevation936 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+47.2%
High School+98.1%
Graduate+15.4%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 44% / D 55%
Commute25 min
Broadband95.2%
Internet Speed130 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries19
Did You Know?
Polk City was founded in 1846.
The median home in Polk City was built in 2005.
17.1% work from home.
The nearest airport is Des Moines International (20 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.433 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
6.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 130 Mbps.
There are 1,227 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 33 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
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