Population 19,361 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Polk County
Household size in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Polk County has 2.46 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Arkansas as a whole looks much the same. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.2 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.0 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Polk County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 43.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in Polk County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only four of Arkansas' 75 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Polk County
Renters in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.6% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Polk County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 59.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.3% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Polk County: 18.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Polk County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $507 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $518 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $609 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $728 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$221 | +$346 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Polk County costs $728 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $221 a month since 2006–10, up 44%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 22.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Polk County
Bachelor's degrees in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Polk County: 18.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.5% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.2% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.3% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.0% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Polk County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Polk County: 7.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Polk County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 2.46 | 45.0 | 7.4% | 21.1% | 18.2% | 1985 | $728 | 18.3% | 87.0% | 7.1% |
| Montgomery County | 2.30 | 49.1 | 10.8% | 19.4% | 30.9% | 1988 | $664 | 17.5% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| Garland County | 2.36 | 46.2 | 14.2% | 30.6% | 18.0% | 1985 | $1,025 | 24.7% | 90.2% | 5.1% |
| Saline County | 2.58 | 41.2 | 9.1% | 21.8% | 6.0% | 1996 | $1,119 | 29.9% | 93.4% | 3.9% |
| Coal County | 2.58 | 41.8 | 10.8% | 30.6% | 20.9% | 1976 | $771 | 18.7% | 85.9% | 6.9% |
| Murray County | 2.74 | 40.2 | 9.6% | 27.9% | 23.6% | 1981 | $904 | 19.3% | 86.3% | 2.6% |
| Arkansas County | 2.45 | 41.4 | 13.6% | 35.4% | 21.9% | 1977 | $856 | 12.7% | 85.2% | 8.2% |
| Phillips County | 2.65 | 38.4 | 20.3% | 48.8% | 25.4% | 1975 | $815 | 15.4% | 81.6% | 13.6% |
| Stephens County | 2.47 | 41.5 | 10.5% | 25.6% | 13.6% | 1974 | $934 | 20.0% | 89.3% | 5.4% |
| Comanche County | 2.65 | 36.3 | 14.8% | 44.4% | 13.9% | 1981 | $1,082 | 25.2% | 91.6% | 7.4% |
| Tate County | 2.45 | 40.2 | 14.0% | 24.0% | 6.9% | 1990 | $993 | 24.6% | 85.6% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Edmonson County, KY · Sumter County, AL · Sumner County, KS · Summers County, WV · St. Clair County, MO · Evans County, GA · Estill County, KY · Essex County, VA · Emmet County, IA · Emery County, UT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Polk County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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