1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Polk County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $83,576. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Polk County
- Employment and commuting in Polk County
- Income in Polk County compared with Iowa
- Polk County housing compared with Iowa
- Towns and communities in Polk County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Polk County budget can carry
- Polk County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Polk County
- Who licenses lenders for Polk County residents
- Four steps for Polk County borrowers
- More guides for Polk County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Polk County
Polk County is home to about 503,175 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 1st most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. It covers 573 square miles of land, or about 879 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 19 Census places inside Polk County, Des Moines leads by population with about 212,421; 18 of the 19 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Polk County
The biggest employer of Polk County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by finance, insurance and real estate (13%). Finance, insurance and real estate stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Polk County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -2.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 13.5% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | +3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | -5.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | +0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Polk County compared with Iowa
The median household income in Polk County is $83,576; statewide it is $75,059, so Polk County runs 11% above Iowa as a whole. Only 8 Iowa counties post a higher median.
| Band | Polk County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.5% | -3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.3% | -1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.6% | +3.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 41% of Polk County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.3% of Polk County residents in poverty, against 11.1% across Iowa. For a borrower in Polk County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Polk County housing compared with Iowa
A typical Polk County rental runs $1,149 a month including utilities, which is 18% above Iowa. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $262,100, about 3.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 67% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1982.
| Measure | Polk County | Iowa | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,149/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $262,100 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.0% | 3.2% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Polk County
The table lists the 14 largest of 19 Census places in Polk County, by population. Together all 19 hold about 527,176 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Polk City has the highest median household income on the list ($164,389) and Des Moines the lowest ($65,932), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Mitchellville ($779) and steepest in Windsor Heights ($1,498). City guides exist for the linked Polk County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | city | 212,421 | $65,932 | $1,090 | 8 mi |
| Ankeny | city | 72,615 | $108,198 | $1,319 | 4 mi |
| West Des Moines | city | 71,083 | $86,594 | $1,237 | 14 mi |
| Urbandale | city | 46,595 | $112,795 | $1,211 | 11 mi |
| Johnston | city | 24,384 | $106,551 | $1,338 | 8 mi |
| Altoona | city | 21,495 | $86,114 | $1,235 | 5 mi |
| Clive | city | 19,012 | $132,121 | $1,073 | 13 mi |
| Grimes | city | 16,366 | $120,037 | $1,251 | 12 mi |
| Pleasant Hill | city | 11,136 | $90,508 | $1,215 | 7 mi |
| Bondurant | city | 8,560 | $135,674 | $1,337 | 6 mi |
| Polk City | city | 6,037 | $164,389 | $782 | 10 mi |
| Windsor Heights | city | 5,143 | $91,707 | $1,498 | 9 mi |
| Carlisle | city | 4,255 | $109,191 | $1,000 | 12 mi |
| Saylorville | CDP | 3,366 | $117,821 | n/a | 3 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Polk County's, from 24 to 34 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Polk County; Dallas County is highest at $102,379 and Story County lowest at $69,685.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | - | $83,576 | $1,149/mo | 67% |
| Dallas County, IA | 24 mi | $102,379 | $1,311/mo | 69% |
| Warren County, IA | 24 mi | $94,588 | $973/mo | 82% |
| Story County, IA | 25 mi | $69,685 | $1,018/mo | 56% |
| Jasper County, IA | 27 mi | $71,311 | $836/mo | 72% |
| Boone County, IA | 31 mi | $83,531 | $845/mo | 80% |
| Madison County, IA | 34 mi | $90,855 | $1,036/mo | 80% |
What a median Polk County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Polk County's medians:
- $83,576 a year is $6,965 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,149, which is 16% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,358 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,846 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Polk County households compared
40% of Polk County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Polk County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.3% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Polk County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 49.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Polk County
Where the Polk County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 41% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Polk County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who licenses lenders for Polk County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Polk County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Polk County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Polk County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Iowa license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Polk County
City guides inside Polk County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Polk County a high-income county?
Its $83,576 median ranks 9th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Polk County?
$1,149 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I live in a small Polk County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston and 14 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Polk County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Polk County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.