Polk County, Iowa
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 492,401
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 516,546
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 516,185
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 492,389
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 492,402
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 4.9%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 4.8%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 492,401
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 430,640
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 6.3%
Persons under 18 years, percent 23.9%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 14.5%
Female persons, percent 50.1%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 82.8%
Black alone, percent(a) 8.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.6%
Asian alone, percent(a) 5.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 2.8%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 11.2%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 72.7%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 21,413
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 10.1%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 226,460
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 67.4%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $262,100
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,741
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $714
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $1,149
Building Permits, 2025 4,730
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 205,358
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.41
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 85.7%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 14.7%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 96.9%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 91.9%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 92.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 40.3%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 8.3%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 6.7%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 71.1%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 67.1%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 2,125,459
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 5,542,461
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 3,038,476
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 12,283,402
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $24,509
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 20.0
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $83,576
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $45,622
Persons in poverty, percent 10.2%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 13,890
Total employment, 2023 295,413
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 19,632,761
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.8%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 38,698
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 10,046
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 5,477
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 2,463
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,051
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 7,558
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 402
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 8,166
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 860.5
Population per square mile, 2010 750.5
Land area in square miles, 2020 572.20
Land area in square miles, 2010 573.80
FIPS Code 19153