Polk City city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Polk City city is a small city located in Iowa. The total population is 5,833. It ranks as the 69th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk City city is 37.0 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 29.6% of the population under 18, Polk City city has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk City city is $163,000. This is 123% higher than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 108% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.5%. This is 50% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $385,000. Housing costs are 97% higher than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Polk City city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polk City city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.

Education

47.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Polk City city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 53% higher than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.1%. Notably, 16.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Polk City city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.