State rank#1 of 99
Smallest county503,175 residentsPolk County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 19153
Polk County, Iowa
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population503,175
Household income$83,576
Unemployment3.1%
Life expectancy77.2 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Polk County has 503,175 residents and ranks #1 by population among Iowa county equivalents. Median household income is $83,576. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.1%. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Iowa
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Polk County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Polk County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $262,100 median home value and $1,149/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $83,576, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Polk County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and median household income. College attainment is 40.3% and life expectancy is 77.2 years.
Potential advantages
- Mental health access: 1 per 285 residents, rank #4 of 95 available Iowa counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.3%, rank #5 of 99 available Iowa counties.
- Median household income: $83,576, rank #9 of 99 available Iowa counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,149/mo, rank #98 of 99; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $262,100, rank #95 of 99; investigate local variation before moving.
- Poor or fair health: 17%, rank #69 of 99; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Iowa
Rank and range use only counties in Iowa with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$83,576
$83,576; above the state county median of $71,223.
State rank #9 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$262,100
$262,100; above the state county median of $160,600.
State rank #95 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,149/mo
$1,149/mo; above the state county median of $820/mo.
State rank #98 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.1%
3.1%; above the state county median of 2.9%.
State rank #63 of 99 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
40.3%
40.3%; above the state county median of 22.3%.
State rank #5 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
77.2 years
77.2 years; below the state county median of 77.6 years.
State rank #57 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
17%
17%; above the state county median of 15.8%.
State rank #69 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
5.5%
5.5%; below the state county median of 5.6%.
State rank #48 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,073 residents
1 per 1,073 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,956 residents.
State rank #11 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 285 residents
1 per 285 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,126 residents.
State rank #4 of 95 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Polk County FAQ
Is Polk County a good place to live?
Polk County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and median household income. College attainment is 40.3% and life expectancy is 77.2 years.
What should I know before moving to Polk County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $262,100 median home value and $1,149/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $83,576, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Polk County?
Polk County has 503,175 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Polk County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 19153; the parent state FIPS is 19.
What is the median household income in Polk County?
The ACS median household income is $83,576.
How much does housing cost in Polk County?
Housing benchmarks are $262,100 median home value and $1,149/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $83,576, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Polk County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.1%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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