Polk County, Wisconsin 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 73% of counties in Wisconsin
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Polk County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,091 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,572 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.4% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Polk County is about 1% lower than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing faster in Polk County (5.0%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Polk County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Wisconsin average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Polk County, Wisconsin grew by 52.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,091 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Polk County
| Metric | Polk County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.481 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,989 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,476 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.7% | 19.3% | 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 0.481, lower than Wisconsin's 0.503, 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 28% more than women's income in Polk County, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $507,955 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, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 28% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2010, and was narrowest at 19% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,016 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Polk County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.8% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 790 people are unemployed in Polk County, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Polk County is 23 minutes, longer than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Polk County, Wisconsin has fallen from 7.8% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.8% in 2013.
Polk County, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Polk County, WI is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 45,555 residents against a local median of 57,989. The measure that sets Polk County, WI apart most is median household income: $77,091, 22% below the local median of $99,358. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.0%/yr against a local median of 4.3%/yr, 16% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while median household income runs behind it, so Polk County, WI is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread $52,556 on median household income, so Polk County, WI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Polk County, WI has the 4th highest median household income 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, WI | 45,555 | $77,091 #4/6 | 5.0%/yr #1/6 | 3.4% #4/6 | 0.481 #2/6 |
| Burnett County, WI | 16,916 | $62,966 | 5.0%/yr | 4.9% | 0.506 |
| St. Croix County, WI | 96,041 | $103,525 | 4.3%/yr | 2.6% | 0.494 |
| Chisago County, MN | 57,989 | $99,358 | 4.0%/yr | 4.1% | 0.504 |
| Barron County, WI | 46,797 | $66,990 | 4.6%/yr | 2.8% | 0.478 |
| Washington County, MN | 276,224 | $115,522 | 3.7%/yr | 3.4% | 0.499 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Polk County, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Wisconsin, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Polk County, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Polk County, Wisconsin?
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 $77,091, about 1% lower than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
How fast is household income rising in Polk County, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Polk County, Wisconsin rose 53%, from $50,532 to $77,091. Over the same years, income here outpaced Wisconsin as a whole: +53% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Polk County, Wisconsin was $76,680, up 4% from $74,049 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Polk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Polk County, Wisconsin was $61,950. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $77,091.
What is the Gini coefficient in Polk County, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Polk County is 0.481. 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, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Polk County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 28% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2010, and was narrowest at 19% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,016 since 2009.
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