Polk County, Minnesota Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Polk County, Minnesota, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Polk County, Minnesota. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Polk County, Minnesota. The estimated population of Polk County, Minnesota is 31,303 people, with a median age of 39.

We can look at the total population in Polk County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
31,303
 -0.26% -0.83%
2020
31,384
 -0.43% -
2019
31,521
 -0.22% -
2018
31,591
+0.09%
-
2017
31,564
 - -

Population of Polk County, Minnesota by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
85.3%
87.9%
 -2.96%
Black/African American
2.4%
1.8%
 +33.33%
Native
1.3%
1.1%
 +18.18%
Hispanic
6.8%
6.2%
 +9.68%
Asian
1.2%
0.8%
 +50.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.5%
2.1%
 +19.05%
Other
0.5%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Polk County, Minnesota by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 39 +0.26% 38 +0.26% 40.1 -0.5%
2020 38.9 +0.52% 37.9 +1.61% 40.3 0%
2019 38.7 0% 37.3 -0.53% 40.3 +0.25%
2018 38.7 0% 37.5 +1.35% 40.2 -2.19%
2017 38.7 - 37 - 41.1 -

The median age of Polk County, Minnesota gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,161 +8.17% 2,037 +0.72% 2,321 2,041
10 to 19 2,176 +0.78% 1,988 +1.41% 2,183 2,004
20 to 29 2,208 -16.76% 1,760 -7.12% 1,859 1,634
30 to 39 2,034 +3.89% 1,828 +5.47% 2,106 1,927
40 to 49 1,645 +3.48% 1,576 -1.76% 1,701 1,546
50 to 59 2,235 -6.49% 2,362 -11.73% 2,089 2,091
60 to 69 1,929 +4.44% 1,796 0.16% 2,014 1,791
70+ 1,600 +9.79% 2,229 +0.54% 1,755 2,241

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Polk County, Minnesota is $61,643.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Polk County.

  • Under 25
    $37,024.00
  • 25 to 44
    $69,300.00
  • 45 to 64
    $76,025.00
  • 65 and over
    $42,377.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Polk County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Polk County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Polk County, Minnesota is currently $75,867.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

3.82% of households in Polk County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Polk County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    22.11%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    19.75%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    15.94%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    15.43%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    16.31%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.64%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.82%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Polk County is $31,173.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Polk County by the total population of Polk County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Polk County, Minnesota, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Polk County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    9.33%
  • Bachelor's degree
    31.89%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.91%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    43.58%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.29%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Polk County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Polk County over the age of 16 is 24,442.

Of those people, a total of 64.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Polk County is 61.40%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,688 57.50% 3.90%
20 to 24 years 1,675 81.30% 4.80%
25 to 29 years 1,818 84.40% 9.20%
30 to 34 years 2,001 85.80% 10.80%
35 to 44 years 3,594 86.60% 2.60%
45 to 54 years 3,517 86.80% 3.50%
55 to 59 years 2,348 73.70% 1.20%
60 to 64 years 2,063 65.40% 2.10%
65 to 74 years 3,218 23.30% 3.20%
75 years and over 2,520 6.00% 5.30%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Polk County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 22,198 64.10% 3.20%
Black or African American 582 74.60% 4.10%
American Indian and Alaska Native 350 52.60% 32.60%
Asian 263 68.10% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 9 77.80% 0.00%
Other 324 56.20% 1.10%
Two or more races 716 73.00% 30.00%
Hispanic or Latino 1,334 72.00% 23.30%
Not Hispanic or Latino 21,521 63.80% 2.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Polk County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Polk County is 15,001, with median earnings of $40,172.00.

Women in Polk County, Minnesota earning approximately 68.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 15,001 $40,172.00
Male 8,026 $48,567.00
Female 6,975 $33,152.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,596 $56,371.00
Business and Financial 535 $48,938.00
Computer and Mathematical 203 $54,563.00
Architecture and Engineering 248 $81,250.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 124 $62,604.00
Community and Social Service 319 $52,205.00
Legal 86 $87,500.00
Educational and Library 912 $45,707.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 265 $11,628.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,010 $52,955.00
Healthcare Support 700 $26,694.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 131 $62,987.00
Law Enforcement 111 $65,486.00
Food Preparation and Serving 755 $10,637.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 745 $25,938.00
Personal Care and Service 358 $21,208.00
Sales 1,420 $32,361.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,536 $33,643.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 418 $35,833.00
Construction and Extraction 985 $49,540.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 596 $47,414.00
Production 914 $41,406.00
Transportation and Material Moving 570 $52,308.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 1,091 $58,713.00 505 $52,543.00
Business and Financial 200 $67,250.00 335 $44,583.00
Computer and Mathematical 177 $54,597.00 26 $51,250.00
Architecture and Engineering 167 $98,750.00 81 $51,691.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 77 $63,723.00 47 $51,875.00
Community and Social Service 85 $50,994.00 234 $60,000.00
Legal 36 $158,553.00 50 $83,810.00
Educational and Library 329 $63,575.00 583 $36,806.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 72 $18,021.00 193 $11,393.00
Healthcare Practitioners 209 $52,813.00 801 $53,036.00
Healthcare Support 199 $22,893.00 501 $28,220.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 129 $63,030.00 2 $0.00
Law Enforcement 109 $65,625.00 2 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 286 $6,875.00 469 $13,073.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 347 $39,688.00 398 $25,021.00
Personal Care and Service 97 $95,409.00 261 $20,063.00
Sales 688 $39,943.00 732 $26,750.00
Office and Administrative Support 385 $34,750.00 1,151 $33,458.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 348 $37,065.00 70 $27,143.00
Construction and Extraction 939 $49,436.00 46 $50,556.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 555 $48,785.00 41 $36,023.00
Production 694 $45,192.00 220 $34,141.00
Transportation and Material Moving 501 $56,219.00 69 $26,380.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 12,363 households in Polk County, with an average household size of 2.43 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 7,662 families in Polk County with an average family size of 3.1 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 6,122 495 1,045 4,701
Average Household Size 3.11 3.72 3.47 1.18
Total Families 6,122 495 1,045 0
Average Household Size 3.1 3.09 3.12 0

Poverty

Of the 7,662 families in Polk County, 7.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Polk County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 14,651 housing units in Polk County, Minnesota.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 12,363 84.38%
Vacant 2,288 15.62%

22.50% of the total 14,651 housing units in Polk County are rental units. This is approximately 3,297 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 8,726 are occupied by the owner - or 59.56% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Polk County is $731.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Polk County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    340
  • Less than $500
    804
  • $500 to $999
    1,689
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    525
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    161
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    108
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    10
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Polk County is $181,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Polk County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    707
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,215
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,411
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,544
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    2,437
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    1,136
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    250
  • $1,000,000 or more
    26

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Polk County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Polk County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    3,495
  • 1940 to 1949
    601
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,678
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,537
  • 1970 to 1979
    2,546
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,287
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,317
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,365
  • 2010 to 2013
    806
  • 2014 or later
    19

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Polk County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    892
  • 1 vehicle available
    3,449
  • 2 vehicles available
    4,613
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,409

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Polk County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Polk County that commute to work in a particular way.

17.7 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Polk County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    1,192
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    3,302
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,503
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    2,263
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,332
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    610
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    945
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    181
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    215
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    699
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    425
  • 90 or more minutes
    147

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Polk County, Minnesota in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Polk County, Minnesota

We have data for 58 places in Polk County, Minnesota. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.