Polk County Summary

Life in Polk County research summary. HomeSnacks has been researching the quality of life in Polk County over the past eight years using Census data, FBI crime data, cost of living data, and other primary sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Polk County:

  • The population in Polk County is 493,378.

  • The median home value in Polk County is $261,050.

  • The median income in Polk County is $78,827.

  • The median rent in Polk County is $1,060.

  • The unemployment rate in Polk County is 4.5%.

  • The poverty rate in Polk County is 10.3%.

  • The average high in Polk County is 69.0° and there are 85.8 inches of rainfall annually.

Cities & Towns in Polk County

List Of Cities & Towns in Polk County

Des Moines, IA Population 213,164

West Des Moines, IA Population 68,744

Ankeny, IA Population 68,392

Urbandale, IA Population 45,591

Johnston, IA Population 23,856

Altoona, IA Population 20,017

Clive, IA Population 18,576

Grimes, IA Population 15,402

Norwalk, IA Population 13,057

Pleasant Hill, IA Population 10,456

Bondurant, IA Population 7,617

Polk City, IA Population 5,604

Windsor Heights, IA Population 5,200

Carlisle, IA Population 4,116

Saylorville, IA Population 2,837

Mitchellville, IA Population 2,506

Granger, IA Population 1,950

Elkhart, IA Population 553

Runnells, IA Population 388

Sheldahl, IA Population 382

Alleman, IA Population 379

Map Of Polk County

Polk County, IA Weather

  • The average high in Polk County is 69.0°.

  • There are 74.83 nice days each year.

  • Expect an average of 85.8 inches of rain each year with 9.1 inches of snow.

  • There is an average of 5:11 hours of sun each day in Polk County.

StatPolk County
Mean High69.0
Nice Days74.83
Rainfall85.8
Snowfall9.1
Sunny_hours5:11
69.0°
Average High
85.8
Inches of Rain

Polk County Photos

Ankeny Iowa  City Hall
Source: Wikipedia User Ashton B Crew | CC BY-SA 3.0
Ankeny Iowa  Welcome Sign
Source: Wikipedia User Ashton B Crew | CC BY-SA 3.0
Ankeny Iowa  Watertower
Source: Wikipedia User Ashton B Crew | CC BY-SA 3.0
Ankeny Iowa  Delaware Ave South
Source: Wikipedia User Ashton B Crew | CC BY-SA 3.0
Ankeny Iowa  High School Sign
Source: Wikipedia User Ashton B Crew | CC BY-SA 3.0
Johnston Welcome Sign
Source: Wikipedia User Iowahwyman | CC BY-SA 3.0

Polk County Demographics

Population over time in Polk County

The current population in Polk County is 493,378. The population has increased 1.9% from 2019.

Year Population % Change
2022 488,871 0.7%
2021 485,418 1.2%
2020 479,612 -

Gender in Polk County

  • Polk County is 50.3% female with 248,137 female residents.

  • Polk County is 49.7% male with 245,241 male residents.

Female
50.3% (248,137)
Male
49.7% (245,241)
Gender Polk County IA USA
Female 50.3% 49.9% 50.4%
Male 49.7% 50.1% 49.6%

Race / Ethnicity in Polk County

Polk County is:

  • 75.5% White with 372,677 White residents.

  • 7.1% African American with 35,214 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 502 American Indian residents.

  • 4.9% Asian with 23,994 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 44 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 955 Other residents.

  • 3.3% Two Or More with 16,050 Two Or More residents.

  • 8.9% Hispanic with 43,942 Hispanic residents.

White
75.5% (372,677)
African American
7.1% (35,214)
American Indian
0.1% (502)
Asian
4.9% (23,994)
Hawaiian
0.0% (44)
Other
0.2% (955)
Two Or More
3.3% (16,050)
Hispanic
8.9% (43,942)

Table: Polk County By Race

Race Polk County IA USA
White 75.5% 83.8% 58.9%
African American 7.1% 3.7% 12.1%
American Indian 0.1% 0.2% 0.6%
Asian 4.9% 2.5% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.2% 0.4%
Two Or More 3.3% 2.9% 3.5%
Hispanic 8.9% 6.5% 18.7%

Household Income For Polk County, Iowa

  • 3.5% of households in Polk County earn Less than $10,000.

  • 2.9% of households in Polk County earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 5.8% of households in Polk County earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 6.7% of households in Polk County earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 11.5% of households in Polk County earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 17.3% of households in Polk County earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 14.4% of households in Polk County earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 18.9% of households in Polk County earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 9.4% of households in Polk County earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 9.6% of households in Polk County earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
3.5% (17,279)
$10,000 to $14,999
2.9% (14,240)
$15,000 to $24,999
5.8% (28,626)
$25,000 to $34,999
6.7% (33,026)
$35,000 to $49,999
11.5% (56,615)
$50,000 to $74,999
17.3% (85,475)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.4% (70,959)
$100,000 to $149,999
18.9% (93,086)
$150,000 to $199,999
9.4% (46,612)
$200,000 or more
9.6% (47,455)
Income Polk County IA USA
Less than $10,000 3.5% 4.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 2.9% 3.6% 3.8%
$15,000 to $24,999 5.8% 7.4% 7.0%
$25,000 to $34,999 6.7% 7.8% 7.4%
$35,000 to $49,999 11.5% 11.9% 10.7%
$50,000 to $74,999 17.3% 17.9% 16.1%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.4% 14.3% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 18.9% 18.2% 17.1%
$150,000 to $199,999 9.4% 7.6% 8.8%
$200,000 or more 9.6% 7.1% 11.4%

Highest level of educational attainment in Polk County for adults over 25

  • 4.0% of adults in Polk County completed < 9th grade.

  • 4.0% of adults in Polk County completed 9-12th grade.

  • 25.0% of adults in Polk County completed high school / ged.

  • 19.0% of adults in Polk County completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in Polk County completed associate's degree.

  • 26.0% of adults in Polk County completed bachelor's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Polk County completed master's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Polk County completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Polk County completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
4% (19,735)
9-12th Grade
4% (19,735)
High School / GED
25% (123,344)
Some College
19% (93,741)
Associate's Degree
10% (49,337)
Bachelor's Degree
26% (128,278)
Master's Degree
9% (44,404)
Professional Degree
2% (9,867)
Doctorate Degree
1% (4,933)
Education Polk County IA USA
< 9th Grade 4% 3% 3%
9-12th Grade 4% 4% 6%
High School / GED 25% 31% 26%
Some College 19% 20% 20%
Associate's Degree 10% 12% 9%
Bachelor's Degree 26% 20% 21%
Master's Degree 9% 7% 10%
Professional Degree 2% 2% 2%
Doctorate Degree 1% 1% 2%

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