Polk County, Oregon: commercial real estate data.
Polk County, Oregon had an estimated 90,549 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 87,430, across 741 square miles. County output reached $3.14 bn in 2024, 1,587 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 107 7(a) approvals worth $22.8 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 2020-202489,662
- Households32,986
- Average household size2.72
- Median household income$85,118
- Median age37.8
- Median gross rent$1,299 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$454,700
- Home value to household income5.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over59,597
- Population under 1819,385
- Share under 1821.6 percent
- Population 65 and over17,062
- Share 65 and over19.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6453,215
- Civilian labor force43,469
- Unemployment rate5.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.9 percent
- Rank by population among Oregon counties12th of 36
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included671st of 3,222
Polk County is the 12th largest of 36 Oregon counties by population. A median home costs 5.3 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.6 percent against 19.0 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, 202490,549
- Census 2020 base population87,430
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.57 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024259
- Births, 2024882
- Deaths, 2024920
- Natural change, 2024-38
- Net domestic migration, 202422
- Net international migration, 2024271
- Total net migration, 2024293
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,062
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents764th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.57 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
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 arriving3,410
- People arriving, from those returns6,052
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,302
- Net household movement108
- Adjusted gross income arriving$217.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$29.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$63,699
- Average income of a leaving household$56,861
- Largest single originMarion County (1,185 households)
- Largest single destinationMarion County (1,118 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 1,185 | 2,232 | $73.4 m |
| Yamhill County | 252 | 486 | $14.3 m |
| Washington County | 148 | 262 | $9.8 m |
| Benton County | 128 | 192 | $8.3 m |
| Multnomah County | 120 | 165 | $7.8 m |
| Linn County | 109 | 178 | $6.2 m |
| Clackamas County | 105 | 172 | $6.9 m |
| Lane County | 78 | 141 | $4.7 m |
Households arriving report $6,838 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Marion 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$3.14 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.76 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202414.1 percent
- GDP change over five years45.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Oregon areas BEA publishes16th of 36
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes945th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$35,058
Output grew 14.1 percent in the latest year and 45.6 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 average21,937
- Establishments reporting2,330
- Average annual pay$52,263
- Average weekly wage$1,005
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,291
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$46,566
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,064
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,156
- Retail trade, employment1,812
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,432
- Manufacturing, employment1,635
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$53,123
- Construction, employment1,273
- Other services, except public administration, employment724
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 4,291 | 376 | $46,566 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,064 | 174 | $23,156 |
| Retail trade | 1,812 | 143 | $34,432 |
| Manufacturing | 1,635 | 90 | $53,123 |
| Construction | 1,273 | 288 | $62,761 |
| Other services, except public administration | 724 | 227 | $36,250 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 539 | 225 | $70,793 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 497 | 119 | $49,397 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,291 jobs, 19.6 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 industries1,587
- Employment at those establishments16,046
- Annual payroll$759.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.7
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, 2024177
- Declared construction value permitted$57.3 m
- Single family units authorized151
- Multifamily units authorized26
- Multifamily share of units14.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$323,835
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.4
Single-family homes are 85.3 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 recorded107
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$22.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$212,870
- Median 7(a) approval$50,000
- 10th percentile approval$15,000
- 90th percentile approval$385,620
- Largest single approval$4,428,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)803
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active21
- Distinct industries receiving approvals66
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter96
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals4.7 percent
- Most active lenderColumbia Bank (52)
- 504 approvals recorded10
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.3 m
- Average 504 approval$533,800
- Median 504 approval$310,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval5.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$28.1 m
The average approval of $212,870 sits well above the median of $50,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.4 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 recorded27
- Paid in full27
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled21
- Status: Paid in full27
- Status: Exempt from disclosure54
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed5
Only 27 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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 lending9
- Dallas, approvals35
- Monmouth, approvals27
- Salem, approvals22
- Independence, approvals14
- Rickreall, approvals3
- Grand Ronde, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 35 | $11,664,300 |
| Monmouth | 27 | $2,897,500 |
| Salem | 22 | $4,461,300 |
| Independence | 14 | $2,612,500 |
| Rickreall | 3 | $220,000 |
| Grand Ronde | 2 | $771,500 |
| Willamina | 2 | $75,000 |
| Sheridan | 1 | $50,000 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $25,000 |
Dallas accounts for 35 approvals against 27 in Monmouth. 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 area741 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Oregon counties30th of 36
- Width, east to west33.6 mi
- Height, north to south24.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land121
- Establishments per square mile2.14
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 410186
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 3
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Polk County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Polk County (community 410186), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Polk County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 3, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 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 2020-202489,662
- Households32,986
- Average household size2.72
- Median household income$85,118
- Median age37.8
Common questions
Polk County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Polk County, Oregon?
The Census Bureau estimates 90,549 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 89,662, in 32,986 households, ranking 12th of 36 Oregon 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 3.57 percent since the 2020 census base of 87,430, to 90,549 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 882 births against 920 deaths, with net migration of 293. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Polk County?
$85,118. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $454,700, which is 5.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,299 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Polk County?
1,587 establishments, employing 16,046 people with an annual payroll of $759.4 m. 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 4,291 jobs, 19.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 21,937 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,263, or $1,005 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?
107 7(a) approvals totaling $22.8 m since FY2020, across 21 lenders, with a median approval of $50,000, plus 10 504 approvals worth $5.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Polk County?
177 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $57.3 m. Multifamily was 14.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Polk County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 Marion County, with 1,185 households. Arriving households report an average income of $63,699 against $56,861 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.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Polk County. 9 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | city | 178,865 | 22 | 13.8 percent here, 86.2 percent Marion County |
| Dallas | city | 17,531 | 35 | Wholly in this county |
| Monmouth | city | 11,428 | 27 | Wholly in this county |
| Independence | city | 10,199 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Willamina | city | 2,193 | 2 | 29.5 percent here, 70.5 percent Yamhill County |
| Grand Ronde | CDP | 1,549 | 2 | 52.0 percent here, 48.0 percent Yamhill County |
| Falls City | city | 1,222 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Hill | CDP | 123 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rickreall | CDP | 52 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Eola | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 107 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Polk County, the largest being Sheridan (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