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Polk County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Polk County, Wisconsin has a population of 45,327, the 33rd most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $76,208 and the median home value is $241,200. The poverty rate is 8.3%.

Polk County Quick Facts

Population 45,327
Median Household Income $76,208
Median Home Value $241,200
Poverty Rate 8.3%
Unemployment Rate 3.5%
Median Age 46.5 years
Homeownership Rate 81.2%
Affordability Ratio 3.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 23.7%
High School Graduation 93.6%
Cities/Places 12
Population 45,327 33rd of 72
Median Income $76,208 about average state
Poverty Rate 8.3%
Unemployment 3.5%

Economy & Housing

Employment

3.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3% | National: 5.2%
61.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.2%
Renter 18.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

12out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 36 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Polk County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Amery city2,959$71,2905.8%$164,300
Osceola village2,818$61,02913.9%$210,800
St. Croix Falls city2,469$63,1797.0%$216,500
Luck village1,185$69,2399.6%$145,300
Frederic village1,148$51,76519.3%$144,900
Clear Lake village1,050$73,21416.8%$172,100
Dresser village1,037$78,9066.0%$194,400
Turtle Lake village900$57,8548.2%$143,100
Centuria village897$38,81921.6%$120,800
Balsam Lake village819$48,46815.7%$188,600
Milltown village817$37,50020.1%$114,200
Clayton village343$49,30614.6%$122,300

Explore Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin with a total population of 45,327. It is the 33rd most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polk County is 46.5 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polk County is $76,208. This is about average than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $241,200. Housing costs are 3% lower than the state median of $247,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 81.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

23.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.6%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Polk County, Wisconsin?

Polk County has a population of 45,327, making it the 33rd most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Polk County?

The median household income in Polk County is $76,208 with a poverty rate of 8.3%.

How many cities are in Polk County, Wisconsin?

Polk County contains 12 Census-designated places.