1st most populous of 99
With 516,185 residents in 2024, Polk County ranks 1st by population among Iowa's 99 counties and is home to 15.9% of the state's residents.
Polk County is home to 516,185 people (2024 estimate) on 572 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
516,185
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
492,402
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+4.8%
2020–2024
Land area
572 mi²
1,482 km²
Population density
901.8 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
6,453
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
3,991
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+2,462
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+6,200
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$69,800
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$63.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$83,576
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
10.3%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
40.3%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
10.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$262,100
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.2%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024516,185▲ 37%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 516,185 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 430,640 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 375,627 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +37.4% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +4,984 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +1,216 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 12.5 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 7.7 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Iowa | 1st of 99 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $69,800 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $63.8 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $83,576 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 40.3% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 10.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $262,100 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,149/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 36.2 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 205,358 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Polk County in context
Comparable indicators for Polk County, Iowa and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Iowa | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 12.5 | 11.2 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 7.7 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 12.0 | 5.9 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 901.8 | 58.0 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $69,800 | $65,225 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $83,576 | $75,059 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 11.1% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 40.3% | 31.4% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 10.1% | 5.9% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $262,100 | $208,000 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,149/month | $972/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 36.2 years | 38.6 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.4% | 71.7% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
3 cities · choose how to order them
Did you know? Polk County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 375,627 in 2000 to 516,185 in 2024, a change of +37.4%, compared with +10.7% for Iowa as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 6,453 births and 3,991 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 2,462.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 516,185.
1st in density
Polk County has about 901.8 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 99 counties; Iowa averages 58.0.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $83,576 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 9th of 99 Iowa counties; the state median is $75,059.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $63.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 1st largest among 99 Iowa counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 3.2% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS