At a Glance
Median Income
$63,438
$24,289 per capita
Home Value
$122,300
Zillow: $276,583
Median Rent
$755/mo
16.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
11.7%
83.3% high school+
Unemployment
1.3%
20.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.6%
19.7% smoking rate
How Polk Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Polk's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Polk a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Polk residents earn a median household income of $63,438 , which is 16% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $24,289. The unemployment rate stands at 1.3% (64% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 20.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,236 business establishments, including 97 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Polk is $122,300 , 57% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $276,583. Median rent is $755/month, with 16.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 92.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Education
11.7% of adults in Polk hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(65% below the national average).
83.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Polk has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.9 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population535
Median Age32.4 yrs
Density530/mi²
Male / Female62% / 38%
Foreign Born0.6%
Veterans6.4%
Economy
B+
Median Income$63,438
Per Capita$24,289
Unemployment1.3%
Poverty20.5%
County GDP$2,446M
Avg Weekly Wage$940
Housing
A+
Home Value$122,300
Rent$755
Ownership87.4%
Zillow$276,583
Housing Units151
Rent Burden16.3%
Health
Obesity39.6%
Diabetes11.8%
Smoking19.7%
Heart Disease6.7%
Premature Death9,329/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Rain36.9 in/yr
Elevation1,268 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+11.7%
High School+83.3%
Graduate+5.4%
School Score6.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 75% / D 25%
Commute26 min
Broadband93.7%
Internet Speed92 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Polk was founded in 1849.
The median home in Polk was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Mansfield Lahm Regional (18 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.398 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
15.5% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 8 fatal vehicle crashes.