Polk County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Polk County is located in Iowa with a total population of 497,441. It is the 1st most populous county out of 99 in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 36.2 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $81,621. This is 12% higher than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.1%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $248,400. Housing costs are 27% higher than the state median of $195,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 67.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Polk County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (7.4% vs 3.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.9% vs 2.4%).

Education

39.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Polk County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 28% 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 92.5%.