Polk, Ohio Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 380, Polk's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Polk is a small community located in Ohio, within Ashland County. The total population is 380. It ranks as the 955th most populous out of 1,264 Census-designated places in Ohio.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk is 32.1 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 39.7 years. With 32.9% of the population under 18, Polk has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk is $68,125. This is 5% lower than the state median of $71,389. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 56% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $132,700. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $214,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Polk is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polk has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

13.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Polk, Ohio is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Ohio state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,264 Census-designated places in Ohio. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.