Population 32,444 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Polk County
Household size in Polk County
| Period | Polk County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.60 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.60 people per household, Polk County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Missouri overall, where it has 2.49 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.49, even as the national average fell.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.1 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Polk County are younger than 39.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.9, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the south.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Polk County (9.6%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.0% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.4% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Polk County own their homes; 28.4% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (40.4%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the north.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Polk County is close to the national rate: 11.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Polk County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $546 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $620 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $717 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $834 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$288 | +$383 | +$606 |
The median renter in Polk County pays $834 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $288 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Polk County: 22.5% 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 4.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.3% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.9% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.7% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Polk County is close to the national rate: 88.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Missouri as a whole (91.8%). The share with a diploma is up 8.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Polk County than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 5.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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 | 2.60 | 39.8 | 9.6% | 28.4% | 11.1% | 1987 | $834 | 22.5% | 88.4% | 3.8% |
| Dallas County | 2.63 | 40.6 | 7.8% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 1982 | $702 | 15.5% | 89.1% | 3.6% |
| Cedar County | 2.59 | 43.2 | 6.7% | 25.9% | 16.8% | 1983 | $692 | 18.3% | 89.0% | 2.4% |
| Laclede County | 2.54 | 40.6 | 15.3% | 31.8% | 9.7% | 1983 | $890 | 16.3% | 84.9% | 5.2% |
| Dent County | 2.58 | 44.5 | 10.8% | 24.1% | 17.1% | 1980 | $710 | 16.7% | 83.6% | 4.3% |
| Neosho County | 2.41 | 41.8 | 12.3% | 22.8% | 10.8% | 1965 | $667 | 23.5% | 93.1% | 3.6% |
| Wilson County | 2.41 | 43.9 | 14.6% | 22.3% | 20.8% | 1963 | $771 | 19.7% | 90.2% | 2.8% |
| Iron County | 2.45 | 45.4 | 11.8% | 24.9% | 18.0% | 1975 | $651 | 19.2% | 85.5% | 3.6% |
| Madison County | 2.76 | 41.0 | 11.6% | 26.3% | 17.9% | 1975 | $812 | 16.9% | 88.0% | 4.5% |
| Perry County | 2.51 | 42.0 | 9.0% | 23.5% | 10.2% | 1977 | $913 | 20.6% | 86.5% | 4.9% |
| Butler County | 2.65 | 39.4 | 9.7% | 22.4% | 8.8% | 1985 | $1,104 | 34.3% | 95.0% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Teller County, CO · Emanuel County, GA · Emmet County, MI · Escambia County, AL · Essex County, NY · Evangeline Parish, LA · Fajardo Municipio, PR · Fannin County, TX · Fayette County, WV · Finney County, KS
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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