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Polk County, Iowa (IA)

County population in 2021: 496,844 (95% urban, 5% rural); it was 374,601 in 2000
County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 90,742
County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 26,789
County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 102,623
Renter-occupied apartments: 52,666 (it was 46,489 in 2000)
% of renters here:

31%
State:

28%

Land area: 569 sq. mi.

Water area: 22.6 sq. mi.

Population density: 873 people per square mile   (very high).

March 2019 cost of living index in Polk County: 90.5 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (21.2%), Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing (13.6%), Retail trade (11.9%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (11.0%), Manufacturing (10.5%).

Type of workers:

  • Private wage or salary: 82%
  • Government: 13%
  • Self-employed, not incorporated: 4%
  • Unpaid family work: 0%
  • OSM Map
  • General Map
  • Google Map
  • MSN Map

  • Races in Polk County, IA (2021)
    • 370,15374.5%White Non-Hispanic Alone
    • 45,2909.1%Hispanic or Latino
    • 37,8677.6%Black Non-Hispanic Alone
    • 25,0205.0%Asian alone
    • 16,2883.3%Two or more races
    • 1,3760.3%Some other race alone
    • 8120.2%American Indian and Alaska Native alone
    • 380.01%Native Hawaiian and Other
      Pacific Islander alone
Median resident age:

36.3 years
Iowa median age:

38.5 years
Males: 247,202  (49.8%)
Females: 249,642  (50.2%)
Polk County, IA forum
Recent posts about Polk County, Iowa on our local forum with over 2,200,000 registered users. Polk County is mentioned 64 times on our forum:
Don't move to Des Moines, Iowa unless..  (155 replies)
Move to Iowa (Des Moines area) from Australia  (13 replies)
Where are the liberals?!  (77 replies)
Des Moines' population growth outpaces state, Midwest  (252 replies)
Licence plates  (1 reply)
Is Des Moines the Next Boomtown?  (41 replies)
Average household size:
Polk County:

2.0 people
Iowa:

2 people

Estimated median household income in 2021: $73,292 ($46,116 in 1999)
This county:

$73,292
Iowa:

$65,600

Median contract rent in 2021 for apartments: $870 (lower quartile is $741, upper quartile is $1,118)
This county:

$870
State:

$704


Estimated median house or condo value in 2021: $226,800 (it was $100,100 in 2000)
Polk:

$226,800
Iowa:

$174,400
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $155,900 - $325,100

Mean price in 2021:

Detached houses: $261,165
Here:

$261,165
State:

$220,148

Townhouses or other attached units: $203,299
Here:

$203,299
State:

$212,170

In 2-unit structures: $155,828
Here:

$155,828
State:

$127,099

In 3-to-4-unit structures: $142,580
Here:

$142,580
State:

$156,939

In 5-or-more-unit structures: $145,362
Here:

$145,362
State:

$154,535

Mobile homes: $35,887
Here:

$35,887
State:

$47,842

Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,489
Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $605

Institutionalized population: 4,339

Crime in 2021 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 1
  • Rapes: 5
  • Robberies: 9
  • Assaults: 84
  • Burglaries: 197
  • Thefts: 493
  • Auto thefts: 124

Crime in 2020 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 3
  • Rapes: 1
  • Robberies: 11
  • Assaults: 105
  • Burglaries: 188
  • Thefts: 417
  • Auto thefts: 106
Polk County, IA map from a distance

Health of residents in Polk County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2013 to 2021:

General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.5. This is about average.
75.1% of residents exercised in the past month. This is about average.
41.6% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is about average.
57.7% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is less than average.
75.0% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is about average.
Average weight of males is 203 pounds. This is more than average.
Average weight of females is 167 pounds. This is more than average.

Health of residents in Polk County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2003 to 2012:

General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.6. This is better than average.
75.7% of residents exercised in the past month. This is about average.
46.6% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is about average.
76.0% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is about average.
77.9% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is more than average.
Average weight of males is 198 pounds. This is about average.
Average weight of females is 164 pounds. This is about average.
31.8% of residents keep firearms around their homes. This is more than average.

Single-family new house construction building permits:

  • 2021: 3167 buildings, average cost: $288,300
  • 2020: 3218 buildings, average cost: $277,300
  • 2019: 2640 buildings, average cost: $273,000
  • 2018: 2240 buildings, average cost: $260,700
  • 2017: 2497 buildings, average cost: $251,700
  • 2016: 2591 buildings, average cost: $251,100
  • 2015: 2466 buildings, average cost: $247,700
  • 2014: 2330 buildings, average cost: $242,500
  • 2013: 2648 buildings, average cost: $231,200
  • 2012: 2402 buildings, average cost: $218,700
  • 2011: 1867 buildings, average cost: $208,400
  • 2010: 1694 buildings, average cost: $201,300
  • 2009: 1415 buildings, average cost: $196,000
  • 2008: 1350 buildings, average cost: $184,400
  • 2007: 2380 buildings, average cost: $180,300
  • 2006: 2791 buildings, average cost: $168,400
  • 2005: 3943 buildings, average cost: $164,700
  • 2004: 3718 buildings, average cost: $161,000
  • 2003: 3635 buildings, average cost: $149,500
  • 2002: 2758 buildings, average cost: $145,000
  • 2001: 2282 buildings, average cost: $138,400
  • 2000: 2028 buildings, average cost: $135,900
  • 1999: 2576 buildings, average cost: $129,100
  • 1998: 2465 buildings, average cost: $127,600
  • 1997: 1745 buildings, average cost: $128,400
Number of permits per 10,000 Polk, IA residents
Average permit cost in Polk, IA
Presidential Elections Results

Graphs represent county-level data. Detailed 2008 Election Results

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2021: $4,144 (1.8%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2021: $3,714 (1.8%)

Distribution of median household income in Polk, IA in 2021
Distribution of house value in Polk, IA in 2021
Distribution of rent paid by renters in Polk, IA in 2021
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2021: 9.7%
Polk County:

9.7%
Iowa:

11.1%
(6.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 37.0% for Black residents, 12.4% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 17.0% for American Indian residents, 32.4% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 19.6% for other race residents, 11.2% for two or more races residents)

Median age of residents in 2021: 36.3 years old
(Males: 35.9 years old, Females: 36.8 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 39.5 years old, Black residents: 29.1 years old, American Indian residents: 15.7 years old, Asian residents: 30.4 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 24.4 years old, Other race residents: 28.8 years old)

Area name: Des Moines, IA MSA
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Polk County is $549 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $669 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $857 a month.

Cities in this county include: Des Moines, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny, Clive, Altoona, Johnston, Grimes, Pleasant Hill, Windsor Heights.

Polk County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

2019 air pollution in Polk County:

Carbon Monoxide: 0.207 ppm (standard limit: 9 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Nitrogen Dioxide: 0.01 ppm (standard limit: 0.053 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Ozone (1-hour): 0.028 ppm (standard limit: 0.12 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Annual: 8.7 µg/m3(standard limit: 15.0 µg/m3). Near U.S. average.

Click to draw/clear Polk County borders

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Polk County: Thompson (A), Melville (B), Conkling (C), Paup Hog Farm (D), Zinke Farm (E), Jack Farms (F), Christensen Hog Farm (G), Greenbrier Country Club (H), Little Red Schoolhouse Museum (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Polk County include: Adventist Church (A), Bethany Lutheran Church (B), Trinity Lutheran Church (C), Hamlin Lutheran Church (D), Ebenezer Church (E), Oak Hill Church (F), Saint Johns Church (G). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: Oakfield Cemetery (1), Pleasant Hill Cemetery (2), Grove Cemetery (3), Oakfield Cemetery (4), Oak Hill Cemetery (5), Danish Cemetery (6), Aretas Lodge Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map

Reservoir: Nabotna Pond (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Bluegrass Creek (A), Crabapple Creek (B), Davids Creek (C), Sifford Creek (D), Bull Run (E), Pleasant Creek (F), Lone Willow Creek (G), Little Indian Creek (H), Little Elkhorn Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Parks in Polk County include: Edwards County Park (1), Izaak Walton Park (2), School House Prairie (3), Plow-in-Oak Park (4), Wiemann Area (5), Nathaniel Hamlin Park (6), Nabotna Pond Park (7), Littlefield County Park (8). Display/hide their locations on the map

Neighboring counties: Audubon County , Cass County , Crawford County , Harrison County , Monona County , Pottawattamie County .

Unemployment in March 2023:
Here:

2.9%
Iowa:

3.0%

Unemployment by year in Polk, IA
County total employment by year in Polk, IA
County average yearly wages by year in Polk, IA

Current college students: 21,022
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 92.6%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 38.4%

Number of foreign born residents: 48,529 (48.9% naturalized citizens)

Polk County:

9.8%
Whole state:

5.4%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
  • Year of entry for the foreign-born population
  • 15,6372010 or later
  • 14,2492000 to 2009
  • 9,6251990 to 1999
  • 5,0971980 to 1989
  • 1,7681970 to 1979
  • 1,556Before 1970

Mean travel time to work (commute): 18.2 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 94.1%

Polk County marital status for males Polk County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

  • One, detached: 135,117
  • One, attached: 16,027
  • Two: 5,304
  • 3 or 4: 4,993
  • 5 to 9: 8,395
  • 10 to 19: 10,880
  • 20 to 49: 16,691
  • 50 or more: 13,899
  • Mobile homes: 3,042
  • Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 624

Housing units in Polk County with a mortgage: 96,396 (9,424 second mortgage, 486 home equity loan, 6,916 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 1,678

Here:

99.0% with mortgage
State:

97.6% with mortgage

Religion statistics for Polk County

Religions Adherents in 2010
Religions Adherents - Change between 2000 and 2010
ReligionAdherentsCongregations
Catholic62,86719
Mainline Protestant61,821117
Evangelical Protestant53,822208
Other9,33135
Black Protestant5,27519
Orthodox6464
None236,878-
Polk County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores: 63
Polk County:

1.51 / 10,000 pop.
State:

2.14 / 10,000 pop.

Number of supercenters and club stores: 7
Here:

0.17 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:

0.23 / 10,000 pop.

Number of convenience stores (no gas): 8
This county:

0.19 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:

0.43 / 10,000 pop.

Number of convenience stores (with gas): 158
Polk County:

3.78 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:

5.55 / 10,000 pop.

Number of full-service restaurants: 316
This county:

7.57 / 10,000 pop.
State:

8.01 / 10,000 pop.

Adult diabetes rate:
Polk County:

7.3%
Iowa:

7.8%

Adult obesity rate:
Polk County:

25.8%
State:

27.3%

Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:

13.5%
State:

14.5%

Agriculture in Polk County:

Average size of farms: 297 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $89,682
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $310.84
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 9.49%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 13.70%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $68,722
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 83.78%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $124,636
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 83.25%
Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 4.77
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 1.12%
Corn for grain: 92691 harvested acres
Soybeans for beans: 86310 harvested acres
Vegetables: 159 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 62 acres

Tornado activity:

Polk County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Iowa state average. It is 5862002.8 times below overall U.S. average.
Tornadoes in this county have caused one injury recorded between 1950 and 2004.
On 5/15/1968, a category 1 (max. wind speeds 73-112 mph) tornado injured one person and caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity:

Polk County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Iowa state average. It is 215% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 9/3/2016 at 12:02:44, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.5 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 401.1 miles away from Polk County center
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW) earthquake occurred 375.1 miles away from the county center
On 11/6/2011 at 03:53:10, a magnitude 5.7 (5.7 MW, Depth: 3.2 mi) earthquake occurred 454.3 miles away from the county center
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi) earthquake occurred 375.1 miles away from the county center
On 6/10/1987 at 23:48:54, a magnitude 5.1 (4.9 MB, 4.4 MS, 4.6 MS, 5.1 LG) earthquake occurred 360.1 miles away from Polk County center
On 7/9/1975 at 14:54:15, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MB, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 304.4 miles away from the county center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Most recent natural disasters:

  • Iowa Severe Storms, Incident Period: August 10, 2020, FEMA Id: 4557, Natural disaster type: Storm
  • Iowa Covid-19 Pandemic, Incident Period: March 17, 2020, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4483-IA: March 23, 2020, FEMA Id: 4483, Natural disaster type: Other
  • Iowa Severe Storms And Flooding, Incident Period: March 12, 2019, FEMA Id: 4421, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
  • Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding, Incident Period: June 6, 2018 - July 2, 2018, FEMA Id: 4386, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood, Wind
  • Iowa Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, Incident Period: June 01, 2010 to August 31, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1930: July 29, 2010, FEMA Id: 1930, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
  • Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 25, 2008 to August 13, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1763: May 27, 2008, FEMA Id: 1763, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
  • Iowa Severe Winter Storms, Incident Period: February 23, 2007 to March 02, 2007, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1688: March 14, 2007, FEMA Id: 1688, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
  • Iowa Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3239: September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: 3239, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
  • Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 19, 2004 to June 24, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1518: May 25, 2004, FEMA Id: 1518, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
  • Iowa Severe Weather, Tornadoes and Flooding, Incident Period: June 13, 1998 to July 15, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1230: July 02, 1998, FEMA Id: 1230, Natural disaster type: Tornado, Flood
  • 7 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.

The number of natural disasters in Polk County (17) is near the US average (15).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 13
Emergencies Declared: 1

Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 12, Storms: 10, Tornadoes: 5, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Snow: 1, Wind: 1, Winter Storm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Means of transportation to work in 2021 - Polk

Means of transportation to work:

  • Drove a car alone: 205,512 (70.8%)
  • Carpooled: 22,846 (7.9%)
  • Bus: 1,187 (0.4%)
  • Light rail, streetcar or trolley: 39 (0.0%)
  • Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 4,125 (1.4%)
  • Bicycle: 890 (0.3%)
  • Walked: 3,215 (1.1%)
  • Worked at home: 52,595 (18.1%)
Class of Workers in 2021
Most common industries in 2021 (%)
Males Females
Most common industries for males in 2021


  • Health care and social assistance (19%)
  • Finance and insurance (14%)
  • Educational services (11%)
  • Retail trade (9%)
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services (7%)
  • Accommodation and food services (5%)
  • Manufacturing (5%)

Most common industries for females in 2021


  • Health care and social assistance (21%)
  • Finance and insurance (15%)
  • Educational services (12%)
  • Retail trade (10%)
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services (8%)
  • Accommodation and food services (6%)
  • Manufacturing (6%)

Most common occupations in 2021 (%)
Males Females
Most common occupations for males in 2021


  • Management occupations (12%)
  • Sales and related occupations (10%)
  • Construction and extraction occupations (8%)
  • Computer and mathematical occupations (8%)
  • Production occupations (8%)
  • Business and financial operations occupations (6%)
  • Office and administrative support occupations (6%)

Most common occupations for females in 2021


  • Office and administrative support occupations (16%)
  • Sales and related occupations (10%)
  • Management occupations (10%)
  • Business and financial operations occupations (9%)
  • Educational instruction, and library occupations (8%)
  • Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (7%)
  • Food preparation and serving related occupations (5%)

Most common places of birth for foreign-born residents


  • Mexico (19%)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina (7%)
  • Vietnam (7%)
  • Burma (6%)
  • India (5%)
  • El Salvador (4%)
  • Liberia (3%)

Most common first ancestries reported in Polk County


  • German (20%)
  • English (8%)
  • Irish (7%)
  • American (6%)
  • Norwegian (3%)
  • European (3%)
  • Italian (2%)

Owners and renters by unit type
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders

People in group quarters in Polk County, Iowa in 2010:

  • 3,163 people in college/university student housing
  • 2,032 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
  • 1,017 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
  • 663 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
  • 570 people in other noninstitutional facilities
  • 549 people in state prisons
  • 416 people in residential treatment centers for adults
  • 313 people in correctional residential facilities
  • 222 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
  • 182 people in group homes intended for adults
  • 115 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals and psychiatric units in other hospitals
  • 74 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
  • 23 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
  • 10 people in in-patient hospice facilities
  • 6 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles

People in group quarters in Polk County, Iowa in 2000:

  • 2,764 people in nursing homes
  • 2,687 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
  • 809 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
  • 486 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
  • 375 people in state prisons
  • 328 people in other nonhousehold living situations
  • 238 people in wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere
  • 236 people in halfway houses
  • 232 people in homes for the mentally retarded
  • 167 people in other group homes
  • 165 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
  • 107 people in unknown juvenile institutions
  • 100 people in orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped
  • 93 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
  • 41 people in homes for the mentally ill
  • 28 people in hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse
  • 21 people in religious group quarters
  • 19 people in hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill
  • 19 people in hospices or homes for chronically ill
  • 19 people in homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children
  • 15 people in institutions for the blind
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2020 was $88,389.

7.87% of this county's 2021 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2020 ($47,322 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

7.87%
Iowa average:

6.47%


10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
3.68% relocated from other counties in Iowa ($26,221 average AGI)
4.19% relocated from other states ($21,101 average AGI)
Polk County:

4.19%
Iowa average:

2.75%

Residents relocating <b>from</b> other counties or countries

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2020 and 2021:
from Dallas County, IA  1.05% ($68,501 average AGI)
from Story County, IA  0.42% ($50,052)
from Warren County, IA  0.36% ($52,886)
from Jasper County, IA  0.16% ($51,761)
from Johnson County, IA  0.13% ($46,144)
from Black Hawk County, IA  0.13% ($50,904)
from Linn County, IA  0.12% ($58,174)


6.80% of this county's 2020 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2021 ($62,730 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

6.80%
Iowa average:

6.50%


10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
3.66% relocated to other counties in Iowa ($34,977 average AGI)
3.15% relocated to other states ($27,753 average AGI)
Polk County:

3.15%
Iowa average:

2.79%

Residents relocating <b>to</b> other counties or countries

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2020 and 2021:
to Dallas County, IA  1.41% ($78,408 average AGI)
to Warren County, IA  0.49% ($68,425)
to Story County, IA  0.29% ($51,465)
to Jasper County, IA  0.18% ($49,534)
to Maricopa County, AZ  0.11% ($68,231)
to Cook County, IL  0.09% ($52,644)
to Marion County, IA  0.09% ($58,195)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 16.0
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2009: 16.3
Births per 1000 population from 2010 to 2019: 14.6

Births per 1000 population in Polk County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 7.6
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2009: 7.2
Deaths per 1000 population from 2010 to 2019: 7.3

Deaths per 1000 population in Polk County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 8.7
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2009: 6.1
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2010 to 2018: 5.6

Infant deaths per 1000 population in Polk County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2018: 5.8%
Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2018: 2.5%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Polk County
All 18-64 40-64 50-64 Under 19
Population without health insurance coverage in Polk County
18-64 population without health insurance coverage in Polk County
40-64 population without health insurance coverage in Polk County
50-64 population without health insurance coverage in Polk County
Population under 19 years without health insurance coverage in Polk County

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 51,542 (43,590 aged, 7,952 disabled)
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 7,454 (6%)
Persons enrolled in Medicare
Aged persons enrolled in Medicare
Disabled persons enrolled in Medicare

Most common underlying causes of death in Polk County, Iowa in 1999 - 2019:

  • Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (4,450)
  • Atherosclerotic heart disease (4,198)
  • Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (3,379)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified (3,354)
  • Alzheimer disease, unspecified (3,059)
  • Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (2,786)
  • Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (1,841)
  • Unspecified dementia (1,746)
  • Pneumonia, unspecified (1,411)
  • Colon, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (1,106)

Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 9%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%

Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 1.27
Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 17,415
Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 421
Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 42,281

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,647
Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 728
Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 3

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 57
Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 103

Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 12

Homicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 31.1. This is more than state average.

Mechanisms of homicide
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
  • Firearm - 15.0
  • Other - 16.1

Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 111.1. This is more than state average.

Mechanisms of suicide
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
  • Firearm - 44.2
  • Suffocation - 30.0
  • Poisoning - 29.2
  • Other - 7.7

Household type by relationship:

Households: 496,844
  • Male householders: 99,471 (27,328 living alone), Female householders: 103,919 (33,210 living alone)
  • 95,122 spouses (94,206 opposite-sex spouses), 14,549 unmarried partners, (13,634 opposite-sex unmarried partners), 139,020 children (131,586 natural, 3,430 adopted, 4,004 stepchildren), 5,873 grandchildren, 4,883 brothers or sisters, 3,796 parents, 586 foster children, 5,137 other relatives, 14,427 non-relatives
  • In group quarters: 10,061

Size of family households: 54,782 2-persons, 27,279 3-persons, 25,170 4-persons, 11,139 5-persons, 4,176 6-persons, 2,867 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 60,538 1-person, 15,386 2-persons, 1,539 3-persons, 464 4-persons, 50 5-persons.

84,626 married couples with children.
27,166 single-parent households (7,658 men, 19,508 women).

85.7% of residents of Polk speak English at home.
6.2% of residents speak Spanish at home (62% speak English very well, 17% speak English well, 16% speak English not well, 4% don't speak English at all).
2.7% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (67% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 14% speak English not well, 4% don't speak English at all).
3.2% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (45% speak English very well, 25% speak English well, 21% speak English not well, 9% don't speak English at all).
2.3% of residents speak other language at home (47% speak English very well, 29% speak English well, 24% speak English not well).

In fiscal year 2004:

Federal Government expenditure: $2,915,958,000 ($7,416 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $217,971,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $837,724,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $387,216,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $15,358,000
Federal grants: $1,177,613,000
Federal procurement contracts: $131,572,000 ($42,557,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $366,476,000 ($92,720,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $35,369,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $210,548,000
Federal Government insurance: $194,124,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:

Births: 32,605
Here:

81 per 1000 residents
State:

66 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 14,637
Here:

37 per 1000 residents
State:

48 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +7,661
Here:

+19 per 1000 residents
State:

+10 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: +159
Here:  +0 per 1000 residents
State:  -14 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Polk County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 50.77 millions of gallons per day (46% from ground, 54% from surface)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:

6.6
State:

6.8

Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:

3.8
State:

4.2

Year house built in Polk County, Iowa
  • Year house built in Polk County, Iowa
  • 2,6602020 or later
  • 31,7732010 to 2019
  • 29,1332000 to 2009
  • 25,5531990 to 1999
  • 17,5121980 to 1989
  • 28,9921970 to 1979
  • 16,7031960 to 1969
  • 21,9011950 to 1959
  • 8,9731940 to 1949
  • 31,7721939 or earlier
Rooms in houses/apartments in Polk County, Iowa
Owner-occupied Renter-occupied
Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Polk County, Iowa
  • Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Polk County, Iowa
  • 1971 room
  • 1452 rooms
  • 2,5153 rooms
  • 10,9574 rooms
  • 24,8125 rooms
  • 27,8776 rooms
  • 20,4597 rooms
  • 19,7818 rooms
  • 30,2509+ rooms
Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Polk County, Iowa
  • Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Polk County, Iowa
  • 3,9051 room
  • 7,3272 rooms
  • 14,9253 rooms
  • 21,1424 rooms
  • 10,2275 rooms
  • 5,0606 rooms
  • 2,5747 rooms
  • 7478 rooms
  • 4909+ rooms
Bedrooms in houses/apartments in Polk County, Iowa
Owner-occupied Renter-occupied
Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses in Polk County, Iowa
  • Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses in Polk County, Iowa
  • 634no bedroom
  • 1,7411 bedroom
  • 25,9832 bedrooms
  • 63,3413 bedrooms
  • 34,0634 bedrooms
  • 11,2315+ bedrooms
Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Polk County, Iowa
  • Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Polk County, Iowa
  • 4,361no bedroom
  • 18,3921 bedroom
  • 31,7222 bedrooms
  • 10,5783 bedrooms
  • 1,0594 bedrooms
  • 2855+ bedrooms
Cars and other vehicles available in Polk County, Iowa in houses/condos/apartments
Owner-occupied Renter-occupied
Cars and other vehicles available in Polk County in owner-occupied houses/condos
  • Cars and other vehicles available in Polk County in owner-occupied houses/condos
  • 2,285no vehicle
  • 33,0951 vehicle
  • 63,4632 vehicles
  • 25,8223 vehicles
  • 8,9224 vehicles
  • 3,4065+ vehicles
Cars and other vehicles available in Polk County in renter-occupied apartments
  • Cars and other vehicles available in Polk County in renter-occupied apartments
  • 8,223no vehicle
  • 34,3771 vehicle
  • 19,2982 vehicles
  • 3,4783 vehicles
  • 7784 vehicles
  • 2435+ vehicles

84.4% of Polk County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago.
   Out of people who lived in different houses, 39% lived in this county.
   Out of people who lived in different counties, 54% lived in Iowa.

Polk County:

84.4%
State average:

86.0%

Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

  • This state: 329,600
  • Other state: 114,820
  • Northeast: 8,090
  • Midwest: 64,341
  • South: 18,949
  • West: 23,440
Year householders moved into unit in Polk County, IA
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Polk County
Houses and condos Apartments
Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos
  • 78.6%Utility gas
  • 18.1%Electricity
  • 2.6%Bottled, tank, or LP gas
  • 0.3%No fuel used
  • 0.1%Wood
Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments
  • 56.0%Electricity
  • 41.1%Utility gas
  • 1.0%Other fuel
  • 0.9%Bottled, tank, or LP gas
  • 0.7%No fuel used
  • 0.2%Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

Private vs. public school enrollment:


Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 4,625
Here:

8.9%
Iowa:

11.9%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 1,663
Here:

5.9%
Iowa:

7.4%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 6,511
Here:

31.3%
Iowa:

24.9%

Educational Attainment
School Enrollment by Level of School
Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Noninstitutionalized Residents
Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Noninstitutionalized Residents
Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Noninstitutionalized Residents
Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Noninstitutionalized Residents
Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Noninstitutionalized Residents
Age and Sex of Noninstitutionalized Residents with Employment Disability

Polk County government finances - Expenditure in 2020:

  • Bond Funds - Cash and Securities: $31,385,000
    Cash and Securities: $27,793,000
  • Charges - Hospital Public: $133,782,000
    Hospital Public: $119,761,000
    Other: $30,151,000
    Parks and Recreation: $16,395,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,615,000
    Other: $11,966,000
    Sewerage: $1,244,000
    Sewerage: $1,147,000
    Regular Highways: $561,000
    Regular Highways: $385,000
  • Construction - Judicial and Legal Services: $23,766,000
    General - Other: $21,924,000
    Hospitals: $21,794,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $12,027,000
    Regular Highways: $6,531,000
    Parks and Recreation: $5,731,000
    General - Other: $5,535,000
    Hospitals: $4,823,000
    Regular Highways: $3,812,000
    Parks and Recreation: $1,746,000
    Sewerage: $1,235,000
    Sewerage: $417,000
    Health - Other: $90,000
  • Current Operations - Hospitals: $193,146,000
    Hospitals: $167,693,000
    Correctional Institutions: $37,766,000
    Health - Other: $33,239,000
    Correctional Institutions: $32,775,000
    General - Other: $29,863,000
    Health - Other: $23,812,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $23,023,000
    Police Protection: $22,913,000
    General - Other: $22,050,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $20,290,000
    Police Protection: $19,574,000
    Financial Administration: $17,846,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $15,523,000
    Financial Administration: $15,391,000
    Parks and Recreation: $15,357,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $14,558,000
    Central Staff Services: $13,207,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,167,000
    Regular Highways: $13,123,000
    Central Staff Services: $12,735,000
    Regular Highways: $10,616,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $9,249,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $8,722,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $7,850,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $7,064,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,533,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,239,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,891,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,875,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $2,322,000
    Sewerage: $1,668,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $1,567,000
    Local Fire Protection: $987,000
    Local Fire Protection: $865,000
    Solid Waste Management: $827,000
    Sewerage: $755,000
    Solid Waste Management: $710,000
    Libraries: $500,000
    Libraries: $475,000
  • Federal Intergovernmental - Other: $10,568,000
    Other: $10,343,000
    Health and Hospitals: $193,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $12,076,000
    Interest on Debt: $10,340,000
  • Intergovernmental to State - Hospitals: $10,989,000
  • Local Intergovernmental - Other: $12,959,000
    Other: $10,716,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,277,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,217,000
  • Long Term Debt - Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $318,282,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $314,897,000
    Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $285,386,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $246,308,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $81,970,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $78,585,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $51,313,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $12,235,000
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue - Other: $32,159,000
    General Revenue - Other: $29,125,000
    Interest Earnings: $12,416,000
    Interest Earnings: $6,062,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $109,000
    Sale of Property: $90,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $40,000
    Sale of Property: $36,000
  • Other Capital Outlay - Natural Resources - Other: $12,653,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $4,644,000
    Hospitals: $2,511,000
    General - Other: $704,000
    General - Other: $463,000
    Health - Other: $111,000
    Health - Other: $37,000
  • Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $311,797,000
    Cash and Securities: $267,895,000
  • Sinking Funds - Cash and Securities: $9,493,000
    Cash and Securities: $3,760,000
  • State Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $13,859,000
    General Local Government Support: $13,456,000
    Health and Hospitals: $13,066,000
    Health and Hospitals: $12,047,000
    Highways: $7,709,000
    Highways: $7,116,000
    Other: $6,924,000
    Other: $5,981,000
  • Tax - Property: $247,398,000
    Property: $214,633,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,715,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,023,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,834,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,342,000
    Other License: $1,561,000
    Other License: $1,314,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $341,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $222,000
  • Total Salaries and Wages: $93,255,000
    : $81,855,000

Polk County government finances - Revenue in 2020:

  • Bond Funds - Cash and Securities: $31,385,000
    Cash and Securities: $27,793,000
  • Charges - Hospital Public: $133,782,000
    Hospital Public: $119,761,000
    Other: $30,151,000
    Parks and Recreation: $16,395,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,615,000
    Other: $11,966,000
    Sewerage: $1,244,000
    Sewerage: $1,147,000
    Regular Highways: $561,000
    Regular Highways: $385,000
  • Construction - Judicial and Legal Services: $23,766,000
    General - Other: $21,924,000
    Hospitals: $21,794,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $12,027,000
    Regular Highways: $6,531,000
    Parks and Recreation: $5,731,000
    General - Other: $5,535,000
    Hospitals: $4,823,000
    Regular Highways: $3,812,000
    Parks and Recreation: $1,746,000
    Sewerage: $1,235,000
    Sewerage: $417,000
    Health - Other: $90,000
  • Current Operations - Hospitals: $193,146,000
    Hospitals: $167,693,000
    Correctional Institutions: $37,766,000
    Health - Other: $33,239,000
    Correctional Institutions: $32,775,000
    General - Other: $29,863,000
    Health - Other: $23,812,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $23,023,000
    Police Protection: $22,913,000
    General - Other: $22,050,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $20,290,000
    Police Protection: $19,574,000
    Financial Administration: $17,846,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $15,523,000
    Financial Administration: $15,391,000
    Parks and Recreation: $15,357,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $14,558,000
    Central Staff Services: $13,207,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,167,000
    Regular Highways: $13,123,000
    Central Staff Services: $12,735,000
    Regular Highways: $10,616,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $9,249,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $8,722,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $7,850,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $7,064,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,533,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,239,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,891,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,875,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $2,322,000
    Sewerage: $1,668,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $1,567,000
    Local Fire Protection: $987,000
    Local Fire Protection: $865,000
    Solid Waste Management: $827,000
    Sewerage: $755,000
    Solid Waste Management: $710,000
    Libraries: $500,000
    Libraries: $475,000
  • Federal Intergovernmental - Other: $10,568,000
    Other: $10,343,000
    Health and Hospitals: $193,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $12,076,000
    Interest on Debt: $10,340,000
  • Intergovernmental to State - Hospitals: $10,989,000
  • Local Intergovernmental - Other: $12,959,000
    Other: $10,716,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,277,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,217,000
  • Long Term Debt - Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $318,282,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $314,897,000
    Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $285,386,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $246,308,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $81,970,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $78,585,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $51,313,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $12,235,000
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue - Other: $32,159,000
    General Revenue - Other: $29,125,000
    Interest Earnings: $12,416,000
    Interest Earnings: $6,062,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $109,000
    Sale of Property: $90,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $40,000
    Sale of Property: $36,000
  • Other Capital Outlay - Natural Resources - Other: $12,653,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $4,644,000
    Hospitals: $2,511,000
    General - Other: $704,000
    General - Other: $463,000
    Health - Other: $111,000
    Health - Other: $37,000
  • Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $311,797,000
    Cash and Securities: $267,895,000
  • Sinking Funds - Cash and Securities: $9,493,000
    Cash and Securities: $3,760,000
  • State Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $13,859,000
    General Local Government Support: $13,456,000
    Health and Hospitals: $13,066,000
    Health and Hospitals: $12,047,000
    Highways: $7,709,000
    Highways: $7,116,000
    Other: $6,924,000
    Other: $5,981,000
  • Tax - Property: $247,398,000
    Property: $214,633,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,715,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,023,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,834,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,342,000
    Other License: $1,561,000
    Other License: $1,314,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $341,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $222,000
  • Total Salaries and Wages: $93,255,000
    : $81,855,000

Polk County government finances - Debt in 2020:

  • Bond Funds - Cash and Securities: $31,385,000
    Cash and Securities: $27,793,000
  • Charges - Hospital Public: $133,782,000
    Hospital Public: $119,761,000
    Other: $30,151,000
    Parks and Recreation: $16,395,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,615,000
    Other: $11,966,000
    Sewerage: $1,244,000
    Sewerage: $1,147,000
    Regular Highways: $561,000
    Regular Highways: $385,000
  • Construction - Judicial and Legal Services: $23,766,000
    General - Other: $21,924,000
    Hospitals: $21,794,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $12,027,000
    Regular Highways: $6,531,000
    Parks and Recreation: $5,731,000
    General - Other: $5,535,000
    Hospitals: $4,823,000
    Regular Highways: $3,812,000
    Parks and Recreation: $1,746,000
    Sewerage: $1,235,000
    Sewerage: $417,000
    Health - Other: $90,000
  • Current Operations - Hospitals: $193,146,000
    Hospitals: $167,693,000
    Correctional Institutions: $37,766,000
    Health - Other: $33,239,000
    Correctional Institutions: $32,775,000
    General - Other: $29,863,000
    Health - Other: $23,812,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $23,023,000
    Police Protection: $22,913,000
    General - Other: $22,050,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $20,290,000
    Police Protection: $19,574,000
    Financial Administration: $17,846,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $15,523,000
    Financial Administration: $15,391,000
    Parks and Recreation: $15,357,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $14,558,000
    Central Staff Services: $13,207,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,167,000
    Regular Highways: $13,123,000
    Central Staff Services: $12,735,000
    Regular Highways: $10,616,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $9,249,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $8,722,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $7,850,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $7,064,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,533,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,239,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,891,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,875,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $2,322,000
    Sewerage: $1,668,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $1,567,000
    Local Fire Protection: $987,000
    Local Fire Protection: $865,000
    Solid Waste Management: $827,000
    Sewerage: $755,000
    Solid Waste Management: $710,000
    Libraries: $500,000
    Libraries: $475,000
  • Federal Intergovernmental - Other: $10,568,000
    Other: $10,343,000
    Health and Hospitals: $193,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $12,076,000
    Interest on Debt: $10,340,000
  • Intergovernmental to State - Hospitals: $10,989,000
  • Local Intergovernmental - Other: $12,959,000
    Other: $10,716,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,277,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,217,000
  • Long Term Debt - Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $318,282,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $314,897,000
    Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $285,386,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $246,308,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $81,970,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $78,585,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $51,313,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $12,235,000
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue - Other: $32,159,000
    General Revenue - Other: $29,125,000
    Interest Earnings: $12,416,000
    Interest Earnings: $6,062,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $109,000
    Sale of Property: $90,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $40,000
    Sale of Property: $36,000
  • Other Capital Outlay - Natural Resources - Other: $12,653,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $4,644,000
    Hospitals: $2,511,000
    General - Other: $704,000
    General - Other: $463,000
    Health - Other: $111,000
    Health - Other: $37,000
  • Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $311,797,000
    Cash and Securities: $267,895,000
  • Sinking Funds - Cash and Securities: $9,493,000
    Cash and Securities: $3,760,000
  • State Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $13,859,000
    General Local Government Support: $13,456,000
    Health and Hospitals: $13,066,000
    Health and Hospitals: $12,047,000
    Highways: $7,709,000
    Highways: $7,116,000
    Other: $6,924,000
    Other: $5,981,000
  • Tax - Property: $247,398,000
    Property: $214,633,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,715,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,023,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,834,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,342,000
    Other License: $1,561,000
    Other License: $1,314,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $341,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $222,000
  • Total Salaries and Wages: $93,255,000
    : $81,855,000

Polk County government finances - Cash and Securities in 2020:

  • Bond Funds - Cash and Securities: $31,385,000
    Cash and Securities: $27,793,000
  • Charges - Hospital Public: $133,782,000
    Hospital Public: $119,761,000
    Other: $30,151,000
    Parks and Recreation: $16,395,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,615,000
    Other: $11,966,000
    Sewerage: $1,244,000
    Sewerage: $1,147,000
    Regular Highways: $561,000
    Regular Highways: $385,000
  • Construction - Judicial and Legal Services: $23,766,000
    General - Other: $21,924,000
    Hospitals: $21,794,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $12,027,000
    Regular Highways: $6,531,000
    Parks and Recreation: $5,731,000
    General - Other: $5,535,000
    Hospitals: $4,823,000
    Regular Highways: $3,812,000
    Parks and Recreation: $1,746,000
    Sewerage: $1,235,000
    Sewerage: $417,000
    Health - Other: $90,000
  • Current Operations - Hospitals: $193,146,000
    Hospitals: $167,693,000
    Correctional Institutions: $37,766,000
    Health - Other: $33,239,000
    Correctional Institutions: $32,775,000
    General - Other: $29,863,000
    Health - Other: $23,812,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $23,023,000
    Police Protection: $22,913,000
    General - Other: $22,050,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $20,290,000
    Police Protection: $19,574,000
    Financial Administration: $17,846,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $15,523,000
    Financial Administration: $15,391,000
    Parks and Recreation: $15,357,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $14,558,000
    Central Staff Services: $13,207,000
    Parks and Recreation: $13,167,000
    Regular Highways: $13,123,000
    Central Staff Services: $12,735,000
    Regular Highways: $10,616,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $9,249,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $8,722,000
    Public Welfare, Vendor Payments for Other Purposes: $7,850,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $7,064,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,533,000
    General Public Buildings: $6,239,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,891,000
    Housing and Community Development: $2,875,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $2,322,000
    Sewerage: $1,668,000
    Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $1,567,000
    Local Fire Protection: $987,000
    Local Fire Protection: $865,000
    Solid Waste Management: $827,000
    Sewerage: $755,000
    Solid Waste Management: $710,000
    Libraries: $500,000
    Libraries: $475,000
  • Federal Intergovernmental - Other: $10,568,000
    Other: $10,343,000
    Health and Hospitals: $193,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $12,076,000
    Interest on Debt: $10,340,000
  • Intergovernmental to State - Hospitals: $10,989,000
  • Local Intergovernmental - Other: $12,959,000
    Other: $10,716,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,277,000
    Health and Hospitals: $1,217,000
  • Long Term Debt - Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $318,282,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $314,897,000
    Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $285,386,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $246,308,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $81,970,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $78,585,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $51,313,000
    Issue, Unspecified Public Purpose: $12,235,000
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue - Other: $32,159,000
    General Revenue - Other: $29,125,000
    Interest Earnings: $12,416,000
    Interest Earnings: $6,062,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $109,000
    Sale of Property: $90,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $40,000
    Sale of Property: $36,000
  • Other Capital Outlay - Natural Resources - Other: $12,653,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $4,644,000
    Hospitals: $2,511,000
    General - Other: $704,000
    General - Other: $463,000
    Health - Other: $111,000
    Health - Other: $37,000
  • Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $311,797,000
    Cash and Securities: $267,895,000
  • Sinking Funds - Cash and Securities: $9,493,000
    Cash and Securities: $3,760,000
  • State Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $13,859,000
    General Local Government Support: $13,456,000
    Health and Hospitals: $13,066,000
    Health and Hospitals: $12,047,000
    Highways: $7,709,000
    Highways: $7,116,000
    Other: $6,924,000
    Other: $5,981,000
  • Tax - Property: $247,398,000
    Property: $214,633,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,715,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $7,023,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,834,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $4,342,000
    Other License: $1,561,000
    Other License: $1,314,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $341,000
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $222,000
  • Total Salaries and Wages: $93,255,000
    : $81,855,000

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2006:

  • Total number of recipients: 5,947
  • Number of aged recipients: 604
  • Number of blind and disabled recipients: 5,343
  • Number of recipients under 18: 1,072
  • Number of recipients between 18 and 64: 3,758
  • Number of recipients older than 64: 1,117
  • Number of recipients also receiving OASDI: 1,970
  • Amount of payments (thousands of dollars): 2,635
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Aggregated Statistics For Year 2009
(Based on 80 full tracts)
A) FHA, FSA/RHS & VA
Home Purchase Loans		B) Conventional
Home Purchase Loans		C) Refinancings
D) Home Improvement Loans
E) Loans on Dwellings For 5+ Families
F) Non-occupant Loans on
< 5 Family Dwellings (A B C & D)		G) Loans On Manufactured
Home Dwelling (A B C & D)
NumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage Value
LOANS ORIGINATED3,057$139,2103,090$148,98213,618$161,444935$45,57153$1,496,453863$111,56264$61,266
APPLICATIONS APPROVED, NOT ACCEPTED123$136,577164$159,0301,394$150,941103$43,5531$250,00038$110,07919$48,053
APPLICATIONS DENIED322$128,149359$121,0673,454$147,324568$27,88914$777,857166$77,50066$43,712
APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN227$134,458254$147,8112,702$152,859161$55,0994$1,625,25091$99,18716$89,000
FILES CLOSED FOR INCOMPLETENESS36$131,66725$224,280454$154,90537$53,0001$940,0008$145,2501$7,000
Choose year:  2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Private Mortgage Insurance Companies Aggregated Statistics For Year 2009
(Based on 78 full tracts)
A) Conventional
Home Purchase Loans		B) Refinancings
C) Non-occupant Loans on
< 5 Family Dwellings (A & B)
NumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage Value
LOANS ORIGINATED657$174,896839$178,8755$152,000
APPLICATIONS APPROVED, NOT ACCEPTED124$174,960192$162,4746$92,500
APPLICATIONS DENIED80$176,313121$184,7443$136,667
APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN29$171,17266$181,9550$0
FILES CLOSED FOR INCOMPLETENESS15$189,93318$182,6111$47,000
Choose year:  2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Conventional Home Purchase Loans in Polk, IA
Conventional Home Purchase Loans in Polk, IA - Value
Most common first names in Polk County, IA among deceased individuals
NameCountLived (average)
Mary2,15779.4 years
John2,01474.5 years
Robert1,66270.8 years
William1,63574.4 years
James1,40072.4 years
Charles1,15574.8 years
Helen1,12281.1 years
George97476.0 years
Margaret93980.5 years
Dorothy92778.7 years
Most common last names in Polk County, IA among deceased individuals
Last nameCountLived (average)
Smith90476.7 years
Johnson88076.7 years
Miller62376.6 years
Brown59374.9 years
Anderson55377.3 years
Davis47375.0 years
Jones46575.5 years
Wilson41177.3 years
Williams37873.6 years
Thompson35775.2 years
Businesses in Polk County, IA
NameCountNameCount
ALDI3Kohl's4
ALDO1Kroger1
AMF Bowling1La Quinta1
AT&T4La-Z-Boy5
Abercrombie & Fitch1Lane Bryant3
Abercrombie Kids1Lane Furniture3
Ace Hardware6LensCrafters3
Advance Auto Parts6Little Caesars Pizza5
Aeropostale3Long John Silver's6
AmericInn3Lowe's3
American Eagle Outfitters3Marriott11
Ann Taylor1Marshalls1
Apple Store1MasterBrand Cabinets21
Applebee's6Maurices5
Arby's11Mazda1
Ashley Furniture3McDonald's26
Audi1Men's Wearhouse2
AutoZone6Menards4
BMW1Microtel1
Bakers Square1Motel 64
Banana Republic2Motherhood Maternity5
Barnes & Noble2New Balance13
Baskin-Robbins2New York & Co1
Bath & Body Works4Nike35
Baymont Inn2Nissan1
Bed Bath & Beyond2Office Depot2
Best Western4OfficeMax4
Big O Tires3Old Country Buffet1
Blockbuster7Old Navy2
Brooks Brothers1Olive Garden2
Brookstone1On The Border1
Budget Car Rental1Outback2
Buffalo Wild Wings2Outback Steakhouse2
Burger King17Pac Sun2
Cache1Panda Express2
Caribou Coffee5Panera Bread7
Carson Pirie Scott4Papa John's Pizza6
Casual Male XL1Payless6
Catherines2Penske4
Charlotte Russe1PetSmart3
Chevrolet4Pier 1 Imports2
Chick-Fil-A2Pizza Hut11
Chico's1Plato's Closet1
Chipotle1Popeyes2
Chuck E. Cheese's1Pottery Barn1
Cinnabon 1Pottery Barn Kids1
Clarks1Qdoba Mexican Grill1
Cold Stone Creamery2Quality3
Coldwater Creek1Quiznos13
Comfort Inn3RadioShack9
Comfort Suites1Ramada1
Costco1Red Lobster1
Cracker Barrel1Red Robin1
Curves6Rodeway Inn1
DHL5Ruby Tuesday1
Dairy Queen17Rue211
Days Inn5Ryan's Grill1
Deb1Ryder Rental & Truck Leasing1
Decora Cabinetry1SAS Shoes1
Dennys1SONIC Drive-In3
Domino's Pizza7Sam's Club1
DressBarn2Sears9
Dressbarn2Sephora2
Econo Lodge2Sheraton1
Eddie Bauer1Shoe Carnival2
Ethan Allen1Sleep Inn2
Express2Slumberland4
Extended Stay America1Soma Intimates1
Famous Footwear5Spencer Gifts1
Fashion Bug2Sprint Nextel9
FedEx89Staples3
Finish Line1Starbucks21
Firestone Complete Auto Care5Studio Plus Deluxe Studios1
Foot Locker3Subaru1
Ford3Subway35
Forever 212Super 84
GNC6T-Mobile17
GameStop7T.G.I. Driday's1
Gap3T.J.Maxx3
Goodwill5Taco Bell7
Gymboree2Talbots2
H&R Block24Target7
Hardee's3The Cheesecake Factory1
Haworth2The Limited1
Hilton4The Room Place1
Hobby Lobby2Torrid1
Holiday Inn9Toyota1
Hollister Co.1Toys"R"Us4
Home Depot4Trader Joe's1
Honda1Travelodge1
Hot Topic2True Value2
Hyatt1U-Haul11
Hyundai1U.S. Cellular19
IHOP3UPS140
J. Jill1Vans4
J.Crew1Verizon Wireless8
JCPenney3Victoria's Secret4
Jimmy John's4Village Inn6
JoS. A. Bank1Volkswagen1
Jones New York16Walgreens22
Journeys4Walmart6
Justice3Wendy's11
KFC8YMCA8
Kmart3

Polk County on our top lists:

  • #22 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2010 and 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #23 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Sulfur Oxides Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
  • #30 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2010 and 2011"
  • #46 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating to foreign countries in 2011"
  • #47 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that visited a dentist within the past year"
  • #55 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant adherents"
  • #55 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant adherents (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #73 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest carbon monoxide air pollution readings in 2012 (ppm)"
  • #73 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest number of births per 1000 residents 2007-2013"
  • #73 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest number of births per 1000 residents 2007-2013 (pop 50,000+)"
  • #76 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest Particulate Matter (PM10) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
  • #79 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest Nitrogen Dioxide air pollution readings in 2012 (ppm)"
  • #85 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that keep firearms around their homes"
  • #87 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant congregations (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #88 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant congregations"
  • #91 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the largest increase in the number of infant deaths per 1000 residents 2000-2006 to 2007-2013 (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #92 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the best general health status score of residents (1-5), 3 years of data"
  • #94 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating to foreign countries in 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #99 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest average weight of females"
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