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Polk County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Polk County, Minnesota has a population of 30,905, the 34th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $69,136 and the median home value is $211,100. The poverty rate is 11.7%.

Polk County Quick Facts

Population 30,905
Median Household Income $69,136
Median Home Value $211,100
Poverty Rate 11.7%
Unemployment Rate 3.6%
Median Age 39.5 years
Homeownership Rate 72.1%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 28.1%
High School Graduation 93.2%
Cities/Places 15
Population 30,905 34th of 87
Median Income $69,136 21% lower state
Poverty Rate 11.7%
Unemployment 3.6%

Economy & Housing

Employment

3.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9% | National: 5.2%
66.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.1%
Renter 27.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

27out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 40 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Polk County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
East Grand Forks city9,067$74,61810.8%$243,800
Crookston city7,388$54,00317.0%$160,700
Fosston city1,283$50,69424.2%$126,500
McIntosh city836$53,75022.6%$100,700
Fertile city782$64,44410.3%$118,400
Erskine city445$32,08316.2%$102,100
Fisher city426$91,4387.0%$180,600
Climax city184$48,75015.2%$111,300
Winger city184$47,5005.4%$78,600
Mentor city143$42,1437.0%$56,100
Nielsville city68$40,31344.1%$85,000
Gully city59$40,97815.3%N/A
Trail city55$62,81314.5%$53,800
Beltrami city53$86,25015.1%$85,000
Lengby city42$51,25042.9%$60,000

Explore Minnesota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Polk County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 30,905. It is the 34th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 15 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 39.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $69,136. This is 21% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $211,100. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 72.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Polk County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.7%. The Black or African American population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

28.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.2%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Polk County, Minnesota?

Polk County has a population of 30,905, making it the 34th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Polk County?

The median household income in Polk County is $69,136 with a poverty rate of 11.7%.

How many cities are in Polk County, Minnesota?

Polk County contains 15 Census-designated places.