Polk, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 615, 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 Pennsylvania, within Venango County. The total population is 615. It ranks as the 1248th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk is 53.4 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 13.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk is $36,786. This is 53% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 35.4%. This is 203% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. 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 13.6%. This is 159% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $101,400. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Polk is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polk has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.6%. The Black or African American population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 8.7%.

Education

14.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 79.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Polk, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.