Population 503,175 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Polk County
Household size in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Polk County run a little small, averaging 2.51 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of the Des Moines area. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Polk County has larger households than most.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.5 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.9 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.7 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.0 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Polk County is 37.0 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.5, as it has nationally. Only seven of Iowa's 99 counties are younger.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Polk County as they are nationally: 12.0%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national share fell. Polk County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Iowa counties.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.2% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.4% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.9% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.6% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Polk County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.6% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 30.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.4 points, mirroring the country. Few Iowa counties have a higher share of renters: only three of 99.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Polk County than nationally: 6.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.7 points, in line with the national trend. Few Iowa counties have a lower vacancy rate: only eight of 99.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Polk County was built around 1981, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center. Only four of Iowa's 99 counties have newer homes.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $833 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $899 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,002 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,241 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$409 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Polk County runs $1,241 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $409 a month from 2006–10, a 49% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Among Iowa's 99 counties, though, only one other has higher rents.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.1% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.8% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.5% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Polk County than nationally: 40.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only four have a higher share of college graduates.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.3% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.7% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Polk County is a bit above the national rate: 91.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Polk County has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
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 | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Polk County is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Few Iowa counties have higher unemployment: only eight of 99. 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 | 2.51 | 37.0 | 12.0% | 32.6% | 6.9% | 1981 | $1,241 | 40.5% | 91.7% | 5.0% |
| Dallas County | 2.59 | 36.9 | 8.1% | 31.0% | 5.9% | 2000 | $1,300 | 52.3% | 95.5% | 2.3% |
| Jasper County | 2.44 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 27.7% | 9.6% | 1964 | $870 | 20.3% | 94.1% | 7.2% |
| Guthrie County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 7.7% | 16.0% | 19.7% | 1962 | $825 | 24.9% | 95.8% | 3.1% |
| Poweshiek County | 2.19 | 41.2 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 11.7% | 1965 | $881 | 28.4% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
| Audubon County | 2.16 | 47.3 | 7.8% | 23.8% | 8.1% | 1948 | $758 | 21.2% | 92.1% | 1.5% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 43.5 | 9.6% | 23.4% | 5.9% | 1967 | $775 | 25.3% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Shelby County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 7.5% | 22.2% | 11.9% | 1953 | $777 | 25.1% | 95.5% | 3.1% |
| Johnson County | 2.40 | 34.6 | 6.9% | 40.6% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,205 | 55.7% | 96.1% | 3.8% |
| Harrison County | 2.42 | 42.5 | 6.4% | 22.9% | 8.6% | 1958 | $851 | 23.0% | 94.1% | 2.2% |
| Cedar County | 2.42 | 44.8 | 10.1% | 18.5% | 9.2% | 1967 | $916 | 23.7% | 95.8% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Sonoma County, CA · Jefferson County, CO · Jefferson Parish, LA · Kane County, IL · Knox County, TN · Lake County, IN · Lancaster County, PA · Loudoun County, VA · Montgomery County, OH · Plymouth County, MA
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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