Polk County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Polk County, Iowa had an estimated 516,185 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 492,402, across 574 square miles. County output reached $63.82 bn in 2024, 13,890 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 609 7(a) approvals worth $268.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Polk County
How many people live in Polk County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024503,175
- Households205,358
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$83,576
- Median age36.2
- Median gross rent$1,149 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$262,100
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher40.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over336,387
- Population under 18122,594
- Share under 1824.4 percent
- Population 65 and over70,275
- Share 65 and over14.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64310,306
- Civilian labor force280,850
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over73.8 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties1st of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included144th of 3,222
Polk County is the 1st largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.4 percent against 14.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Polk County
Is Polk County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024516,185
- Census 2020 base population492,402
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.83 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20248,698
- Births, 20246,453
- Deaths, 20243,991
- Natural change, 20242,462
- Net domestic migration, 20241,216
- Net international migration, 20244,984
- Total net migration, 20246,200
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,447
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents556th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.83 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Polk County
Where are people moving to Polk County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving13,078
- People arriving, from those returns20,885
- Tax returns filed by households leaving14,210
- Net household movement-1,132
- Adjusted gross income arriving$825.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-123.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$63,088
- Average income of a leaving household$66,774
- Largest single originDallas County (2,107 households)
- Largest single destinationDallas County (2,575 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 2,107 | 3,418 | $153.3 m |
| Story County | 857 | 1,190 | $41.8 m |
| Warren County | 730 | 1,268 | $45.8 m |
| Jasper County | 332 | 525 | $17.4 m |
| Johnson County | 275 | 371 | $14.1 m |
| Linn County | 259 | 414 | $16.0 m |
| Black Hawk County | 240 | 337 | $11.9 m |
| Marion County | 180 | 261 | $9.3 m |
Households arriving report $3,686 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Dallas County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Polk County
What is the Polk County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$63.82 bn
- County GDP, 2023$59.55 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.2 percent
- GDP change over five years30.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes1st of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes92nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$126,841
Output grew 7.2 percent in the latest year and 30.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Polk County
Employment by industry in Polk County
- Covered employment, annual average317,845
- Establishments reporting20,581
- Average annual pay$72,557
- Average weekly wage$1,395
- Health care and social assistance, employment39,472
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$61,984
- Finance and insurance, employment31,508
- Finance and insurance, average annual pay$120,866
- Retail trade, employment30,431
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,944
- Accommodation and food services, employment24,283
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,894
- Construction, employment20,807
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment20,120
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 39,472 | 2,057 | $61,984 |
| Finance and insurance | 31,508 | 1,548 | $120,866 |
| Retail trade | 30,431 | 1,717 | $39,944 |
| Accommodation and food services | 24,283 | 1,275 | $26,894 |
| Construction | 20,807 | 1,462 | $82,065 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 20,120 | 3,392 | $105,432 |
| Manufacturing | 19,917 | 500 | $74,964 |
| Wholesale trade | 17,868 | 1,670 | $101,402 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 39,472 jobs, 12.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Polk County
How many businesses are in Polk County?
- Establishments, all industries13,890
- Employment at those establishments295,413
- Annual payroll$19.63 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Polk County
Building permits in Polk County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20242,949
- Declared construction value permitted$977.9 m
- Single family units authorized2,295
- Multifamily units authorized654
- Multifamily share of units22.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$331,601
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.4
Single-family homes are 77.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Polk County
SBA loans in Polk County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded609
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$268.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$440,456
- Median 7(a) approval$175,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,039,800
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)7,330
- Jobs per approval12.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active104
- Distinct industries receiving approvals207
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms41
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter522
- Franchise loans109
- Franchise share of approvals17.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (33)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (88)
- 504 approvals recorded215
- 504 gross approval dollars$163.8 m
- Average 504 approval$762,037
- Median 504 approval$475,000
- Distinct CDCs active10
- 504 jobs per approval11.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.7
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (143)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$432.1 m
The average approval of $440,456 sits well above the median of $175,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Polk County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Polk County
Do SBA loans in Polk County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded122
- Paid in full112
- Charged off10
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans8.2 percent
- Status: Charged off10
- Status: Exempt from disclosure398
- Status: Paid in full112
- Status: Cancelled64
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed25
Of the 122 loans that have reached a final outcome, 8.2 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Polk County
SBA lending by place in Polk County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending20
- Des Moines, approvals188
- Ankeny, approvals96
- West Des Moines, approvals85
- Urbandale, approvals79
- Grimes, approvals39
- Johnston, approvals33
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 188 | $84,542,200 |
| Ankeny | 96 | $36,420,700 |
| West Des Moines | 85 | $39,732,000 |
| Urbandale | 79 | $31,908,500 |
| Grimes | 39 | $24,039,800 |
| Johnston | 33 | $11,843,200 |
| Clive | 29 | $17,398,900 |
| Altoona | 20 | $11,585,700 |
| 12 other borrower cities | 40 | $10,766,500 |
Des Moines accounts for 188 approvals against 96 in Ankeny. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Polk County
How large is Polk County?
- Land area574 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties40th of 99
- Width, east to west25.2 mi
- Height, north to south25.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land877
- Establishments per square mile24.20
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Polk County
Flood risk in Polk County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Polk County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190901
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book18
- Of those, participating in the NFIP17
- NFIP participation rate94.4 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 4
- Communities carrying a CRS class5
- Radon levels in Polk County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Polk County (community 190901), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Polk County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 4, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 94.4 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Polk County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Polk County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024503,175
- Households205,358
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$83,576
- Median age36.2
Common questions
Polk County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Polk County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 516,185 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 503,175, in 205,358 households, ranking 1st of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Polk County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.83 percent since the 2020 census base of 492,402, to 516,185 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 6,453 births against 3,991 deaths, with net migration of 6,200. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Polk County?
$83,576. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $262,100, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,149 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Polk County?
13,890 establishments, employing 295,413 people with an annual payroll of $19.63 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Polk County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 39,472 jobs, 12.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 317,845 jobs at an average annual pay of $72,557, or $1,395 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Polk County?
609 7(a) approvals totaling $268.2 m since FY2020, across 104 lenders, with a median approval of $175,000, plus 215 504 approvals worth $163.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Polk County get paid back?
Of the 122 loans that have reached a final outcome, 112 were paid in full and 10 charged off, a charge-off rate of 8.2 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Polk County?
2,949 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $977.9 m. Multifamily was 22.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Polk County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Polk County come from?
The largest single origin is Dallas County, with 2,107 households. Arriving households report an average income of $63,088 against $66,774 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Polk County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Polk County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Polk County
Cities and places in Polk.
20 Census places lie wholly or partly in Polk County. All 20 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | city | 212,421 | 188 | 92.9 percent here, 7.1 percent Warren County |
| Ankeny | city | 72,615 | 96 | Wholly in this county |
| West Des Moines | city | 71,083 | 85 | 54.2 percent here, 40.2 percent Dallas County, 4.1 percent Warren County |
| Urbandale | city | 46,595 | 79 | 67.5 percent here, 32.5 percent Dallas County |
| Johnston | city | 24,384 | 33 | Wholly in this county |
| Altoona | city | 21,495 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Clive | city | 19,012 | 29 | 61.2 percent here, 38.8 percent Dallas County |
| Grimes | city | 16,366 | 39 | 84.1 percent here, 15.9 percent Dallas County |
| Pleasant Hill | city | 11,136 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Bondurant | city | 8,560 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Polk City | city | 6,037 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Windsor Heights | city | 5,143 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Carlisle | city | 4,255 | None recorded | 59.0 percent here, 41.0 percent Warren County |
| Saylorville | CDP | 3,366 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mitchellville | city | 2,579 | 1 | 97.6 percent here, 2.4 percent Jasper County |
| Granger | city | 1,979 | 1 | 44.4 percent here, 55.6 percent Dallas County |
| Elkhart | city | 899 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Runnells | city | 440 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Alleman | city | 429 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sheldahl | city | 361 | None recorded | 37.4 percent here, 31.6 percent Story County, 31.0 percent Boone County |
A further 4 of the county's 609 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Polk County, the largest being Madrid (1), Saint Charles (1), Perry (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby