Polk County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Name: Polk County, Nebraska Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Polk County, Nebraska has a population of 5,209, the 54th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $71,771 and the median home value is $177,800. The poverty rate is 6.2%.

Polk County Quick Facts

Population 5,209

Median Household Income $71,771

Median Home Value $177,800

Poverty Rate 6.2%

Unemployment Rate 1.5%

Median Age 43.7 years

Homeownership Rate 81.6%

Affordability Ratio 2.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.6%

High School Graduation 93.3%

Cities/Places 4

Population 5,209 54th of 93

Median Income $71,771 4% lower than state

Poverty Rate 6.2%

Unemployment 1.5%

Median Household Income

Polk

$71,771

$74,985

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Polk

$177,800

$223,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 9.3%

$25K-$50K 19.2%

$50K-$100K 37.6%

$100K+ 33.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.5%

$10K-$15K

2.4%

$15K-$20K

2.0%

$20K-$25K

2.4%

$25K-$30K

2.3%

$30K-$35K

4.6%

$35K-$40K

6.8%

$40K-$45K

2.6%

$45K-$50K

3.0%

$50K-$60K

10.1%

$60K-$75K

13.4%

$75K-$100K

14.1%

$100K-$125K

11.6%

$125K-$150K

8.4%

$150K-$200K

9.3%

$200K+

4.7%

Employment

1.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%

67.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.6%

Renter 18.4%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.4%

18-34

17.8%

35-54

22.3%

55-74

28.0%

75+

9.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 40 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Polk County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Stromsburg	1,007	$61,182	9.5%	$159,100
Osceola	867	$85,673	9.9%	$143,800
Shelby	709	$75,795	6.2%	$112,200
Polk	331	$53,182	11.5%	$80,300

Explore Nebraska 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 Nebraska with a total population of 5,209. It is the 54th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 43.7 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $71,771. This is 4% lower than the state median of $74,985. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 6.2%. This is 40% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.5%. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $177,800. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Polk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.8%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.8%) is well below the state average of 12.3%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

18.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 34.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Polk County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Nebraska 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, Nebraska?

Polk County has a population of 5,209, making it the 54th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Polk County?

The median household income in Polk County is $71,771 with a poverty rate of 6.2%.

How many cities are in Polk County, Nebraska?

Polk County contains 4 Census-designated places.