Polk County, Minnesota 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.
-
B
Polk County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Polk County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,256 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,841 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.1% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Polk County is about 18% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Polk County (4.1%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Polk County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Minnesota average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Polk County, Minnesota grew by 62.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $73,256 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Polk County
| Metric | Polk County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.502 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,646 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,942 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.4% | 16.0% | 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 0.502, about the same as Minnesota's 0.507, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Polk County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $514,640 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Polk County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 28% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2010, and was narrowest at 21% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,131 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Polk County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.8% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 573 people are unemployed in Polk County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Polk County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Polk County, Minnesota has fallen from 6.0% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.1% in 2020.
Polk County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Polk County, MN is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 30,705 residents against a local median of 6,367. Polk County, MN sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 9% below the local median at 4.1%/yr against 4.5%/yr. Polk County, MN has the 5th highest income growth 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, MN | 30,705 | $73,256 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #5/6 | 3.6% #4/6 | 0.502 #5/6 |
| Red Lake County, MN | 3,915 | $76,854 | 5.7%/yr | 1.1% | 0.462 |
| Norman County, MN | 6,367 | $72,723 | 4.4%/yr | 5.3% | 0.493 |
| Pennington County, MN | 11,337 | $77,455 | 4.5%/yr | 2.9% | 0.458 |
| Marshall County, MN | 8,909 | $72,346 | 3.1%/yr | 3.5% | 0.476 |
| Mahnomen County, MN | 5,358 | $59,265 | 4.5%/yr | 9.8% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Polk County, Minnesota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Minnesota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Polk County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Polk County, Minnesota?
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 $73,256, about 18% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
Are incomes growing in Polk County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Polk County, Minnesota rose 63%, from $45,076 to $73,256. Over the same years, income here outpaced Minnesota as a whole: +63% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Polk County, Minnesota was $68,407, about the same as in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Polk County, Minnesota was $59,183. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $73,256.
What is the Gini coefficient in Polk County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Polk County is 0.502. 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, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Polk County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 28% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2010, and was narrowest at 21% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,131 since 2009.
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