Polk County, Arkansas Demographics 2026
Polk County, Arkansas has a population of 19,361, the 35th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $49,191 and the median home value is $138,400. The poverty rate is 15.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Polk County Quick Facts
How Polk County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,348 | 19,361 | +0.1% |
| Median household income | $49,252 | $49,191 | -0.1% |
| Median home value | $122,600 | $138,400 | +12.9% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 51 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Polk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mena | 5,582 | $47,428 | 13.9% | $132,900 |
| Wickes | 694 | $27,411 | 41.3% | $45,000 |
| Grannis | 691 | $75,132 | 14.2% | $94,700 |
| Hatfield | 544 | $38,863 | 22.6% | $112,500 |
| Cove | 462 | $39,688 | 22.3% | $75,000 |
| Acorn | 203 | $93,811 | 0.0% | $299,200 |
| Vandervoort | 202 | $78,839 | 2.0% | $110,000 |
| Board Camp | 69 | N/A | 21.7% | N/A |
Explore Arkansas Rankings
Population Overview
Polk County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 19,361. It is the 35th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Polk County is 44.3 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Polk County is $49,191. This is 19% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.9%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $138,400. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Polk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 66.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
Polk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.0%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 25.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Polk County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Arkansas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Polk County, Arkansas?
Polk County has a population of 19,361, making it the 35th most populous county in Arkansas.
What is the median income in Polk County?
The median household income in Polk County is $49,191 with a poverty rate of 15.9%.
How many cities are in Polk County, Arkansas?
Polk County contains 8 Census-designated places.