Polk County, Iowa Income Statistics
Polk County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Polk County Around averageWealthier than 94% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Polk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,877 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,603 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.6% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Polk County is about 12% higher than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Polk County (3.9%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Polk County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Polk County, Iowa grew by 49.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $83,877 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Polk County
| Metric | Polk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.503 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,616 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $57,337 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.9% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Polk County, it is 0.503, lower than Iowa's 0.510, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Polk County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $499,765 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Polk County, Iowa has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 20%. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2011, and was narrowest at 17% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,564 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Polk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.7% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 12,220 people are unemployed in Polk County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Polk County is 18 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Polk County, Iowa has fallen from 5.8% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2019.
Polk County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Polk County, IA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 502,972 residents against a local median of 54,398. Polk County, IA's unemployment, at 4.3%, runs 28% above the 3.4% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.2% on unemployment, so Polk County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Polk County, IA has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County, IA | 502,972 | $83,877 #4/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 4.3% #4/6 | 0.503 #3/6 |
| Warren County, IA | 54,398 | $95,575 | 4.5%/yr | 3.4% | 0.505 |
| Story County, IA | 100,466 | $70,594 | 4.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.571 |
| Dallas County, IA | 107,966 | $102,109 | 3.2%/yr | 2.3% | 0.491 |
| Boone County, IA | 26,668 | $84,575 | 5.5%/yr | 1.5% | 0.477 |
| Jasper County, IA | 37,954 | $70,936 | 3.4%/yr | 5.7% | 0.510 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Polk County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Polk County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Polk County, Iowa?
Polk County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $83,877, about 12% higher than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How fast is household income rising in Polk County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Polk County, Iowa rose 50%, from $56,021 to $83,877. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +50% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Polk County, Iowa was $81,564, up 3% from $79,034 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Polk County, Iowa was $69,755. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $83,877.
Is Polk County, Iowa a high-income area?
Yes. 14% of adults in Polk County, Iowa earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 7), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in Iowa. 12% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in Iowa.
What is the Gini coefficient in Polk County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Polk County is 0.503. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Polk County, Iowa?
The income gap between men and women in Polk County, Iowa has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 20%. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2011, and was narrowest at 17% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,564 since 2009.
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