Polk County, Oregon 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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C
Polk County Below averageWealthier than 80% of counties in Oregon
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Polk County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $86,020 | $83,617 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,359 | $63,212 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.2% | 14.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.3% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Polk County is about 3% higher than in Oregon. Income has been growing faster in Polk County (5.8%/yr) than in Oregon (5.7%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Polk County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Oregon average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Polk County, Oregon grew by 69.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $86,020 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Polk County
| Metric | Polk County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.543 | 0.538 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,172 | $71,900 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $57,448 | $60,417 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.7% | 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 0.543, about the same as Oregon's 0.538, 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 19% more than women's income in Polk County, Oregon. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $375,340 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, Oregon has narrowed from about 27% to 16% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,509 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Polk County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 17.5% | 19.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 2,457 people are unemployed in Polk County, Oregon.
The average commute time in Polk County is 22 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Polk County, Oregon has fallen from 8.7% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.7% in 2014 and fell as low as 5.2% in 2023.
Polk County, OR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Polk County, OR is typical in size for this group, 89,625 residents against a local median of 96,284, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Polk County, OR apart most is unemployment: 5.6%, 18% above the local median of 4.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.5% on unemployment, so Polk County, OR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Polk County, OR 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, OR | 89,625 | $86,020 #3/6 | 5.8%/yr #3/6 | 5.6% #4/6 | 0.543 #4/6 |
| Yamhill County, OR | 108,598 | $89,058 | 6.2%/yr | 4.8% | 0.548 |
| Benton County, OR | 96,284 | $76,897 | 4.9%/yr | 7.0% | 0.585 |
| Lincoln County, OR | 50,961 | $63,695 | 5.6%/yr | 8.0% | 0.530 |
| Tillamook County, OR | 27,495 | $68,636 | 5.9%/yr | 4.5% | 0.532 |
| Washington County, OR | 603,920 | $108,282 | 5.7%/yr | 4.5% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Polk County, Oregon has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Oregon, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Polk County, Oregon.
How Rich Is Polk County, Oregon?
Polk County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $86,020, about 3% higher than the Oregon average of $83,617.
Are incomes growing in Polk County, Oregon?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Polk County, Oregon rose 70%, from $50,722 to $86,020. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Oregon as a whole: +70% against +71%.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Polk County, Oregon was $82,318, up 6% from $77,484 in 2022. The Oregon median that year was $80,917.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Polk County, Oregon was $65,978. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $86,020.
What is the Gini coefficient in Polk County, Oregon?
The Gini coefficient in Polk County is 0.543. 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, Oregon?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Polk County, Oregon has narrowed from about 27% to 16% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,509 since 2009.
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