1st Advantage MortgageThe median Polk County household earns $59,647, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Polk County, MO: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Polk County
- How Polk County residents earn a living
- Polk County housing compared with Missouri
- Counties near Polk County
- Towns and communities in Polk County
- Debt-to-income at Polk County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Polk County
- People and households in Polk County
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Polk County, MO: the basics
Roughly 32,444 residents live in Polk County, Missouri, 36th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. It covers 636 square miles of land, or about 51 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Springfield, MO metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Bolivar is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 11,170 people (34% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Polk County
Half of Polk County households take in less than $59,647 a year and half take in more, 16% below the Missouri median of $70,702. In the state ranking that is 59th of 115.
| Yearly household income | Polk County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.6% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.6% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -3.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Polk County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. 16.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.454 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $59,647 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Polk County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Polk County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward education and health care (27% against 24%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.0% in Polk County. Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Polk County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | -0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.9% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Polk County housing compared with Missouri
Renters in Polk County pay a median of $814 a month, 21% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. By the Census definition, 46% of Polk County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $205,800, a typical Polk County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 72%.
| Cost | Polk County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $814/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $205,800 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 11% | n/a |
Counties near Polk County
Dallas County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, St. Clair County, is 36 miles off. Greene County leads the group on income ($61,479), Hickory County trails ($39,390), and Polk County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | - | $59,647 | $814/mo | 72% |
| Dallas County, MO | 21 mi | $53,464 | $642/mo | 76% |
| Hickory County, MO | 23 mi | $39,390 | $648/mo | 82% |
| Greene County, MO | 25 mi | $61,479 | $989/mo | 57% |
| Cedar County, MO | 26 mi | $48,181 | $767/mo | 74% |
| Dade County, MO | 28 mi | $53,750 | $683/mo | 77% |
| St. Clair County, MO | 36 mi | $53,043 | $622/mo | 76% |
Towns and communities in Polk County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Polk County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 14,409 residents, leaving about 56% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Pleasant Hope has the highest median household income on the list ($65,078) and Humansville the lowest ($37,446), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Polk County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar | city | 11,170 | $49,622 | $812 | 1 mi |
| Humansville | city | 1,058 | $37,446 | $632 | 16 mi |
| Pleasant Hope | city | 716 | $65,078 | $950 | 13 mi |
| Fair Play | city | 595 | $40,781 | $938 | 10 mi |
| Morrisville | town | 595 | $60,625 | $843 | 10 mi |
| Halfway | village | 137 | $29,583 | $718 | 9 mi |
| Flemington | village | 73 | $31,563 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Aldrich | village | 65 | $82,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
Debt-to-income at Polk County's medians
Polk County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,971 gross per month ($59,647 / 12)
- Less median rent of $814, which is 16% of it
- $975: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,323: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Polk County
What the Polk County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Polk County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 21% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Polk County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in Polk County
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Polk County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Polk County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Polk County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Polk County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Polk County earn?
The median is $59,647; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 30% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Polk County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $814 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Bolivar?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Polk County, such as Humansville, Pleasant Hope, Fair Play.
Is the fit check different in Polk County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Polk County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Missouri it is the Missouri Division of Finance.