Polk County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Polk County, Wisconsin had an estimated 45,831 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,969, across 914 square miles. County output reached $2.19 bn in 2024, 1,163 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 89 7(a) approvals worth $54.2 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 2020-202445,555
- Households19,542
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$77,219
- Median age46.7
- Median gross rent$957 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$271,900
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over33,560
- Population under 189,058
- Share under 1819.9 percent
- Population 65 and over10,305
- Share 65 and over22.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,192
- Civilian labor force23,065
- Unemployment rate3.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.2 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties32nd of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1088th of 3,222
Polk County is the 32nd largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.6 percent against 19.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Polk County
Is Polk County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202445,831
- Census 2020 base population44,969
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.92 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-14
- Births, 2024414
- Deaths, 2024565
- Natural change, 2024-151
- Net domestic migration, 2024116
- Net international migration, 202423
- Total net migration, 2024139
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,324
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1191st of 3,144
The county has grown 1.92 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though 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 arriving1,352
- People arriving, from those returns2,412
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,162
- Net household movement190
- Adjusted gross income arriving$108.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$36.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$80,123
- Average income of a leaving household$62,153
- Largest single originSt. Croix County (218 households)
- Largest single destinationSt. Croix County (217 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Croix County | 218 | 428 | $25.5 m |
| Washington County | 109 | 195 | $10.2 m |
| Barron County | 109 | 174 | $6.2 m |
| Chisago County | 88 | 143 | $4.9 m |
| Ramsey County | 81 | 157 | $7.8 m |
| Burnett County | 76 | 130 | $3.9 m |
| Hennepin County | 55 | 82 | $6.4 m |
| Anoka County | 52 | 84 | $4.1 m |
Households arriving report $17,970 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 St. Croix 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$2.19 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.12 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.9 percent
- GDP change over five years30.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes37th of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1206th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,965
Output grew 2.9 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 average16,162
- Establishments reporting1,311
- Average annual pay$47,798
- Average weekly wage$919
- Manufacturing, employment3,850
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$58,419
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,675
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$56,497
- Retail trade, employment2,132
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,076
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,259
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,213
- Construction, employment632
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment578
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,850 | 104 | $58,419 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,675 | 174 | $56,497 |
| Retail trade | 2,132 | 146 | $32,076 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,259 | 130 | $17,213 |
| Construction | 632 | 155 | $60,914 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 578 | 75 | $31,963 |
| Wholesale trade | 330 | 48 | $57,651 |
| Other services, except public administration | 298 | 73 | $40,307 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,850 jobs, 23.8 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 industries1,163
- Employment at those establishments14,018
- Annual payroll$710.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.5
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, 2024247
- Declared construction value permitted$48.4 m
- Single family units authorized235
- Multifamily units authorized12
- Multifamily share of units4.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$195,954
- Units authorized per 1,000 households12.6
Single-family homes are 95.1 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 recorded89
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$54.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$608,648
- Median 7(a) approval$232,200
- 10th percentile approval$50,720
- 90th percentile approval$1,436,460
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)853
- Jobs per approval9.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active23
- Distinct industries receiving approvals53
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer24.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms22
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter58
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals2.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSeptic Tank and Related Services (9)
- Most active lenderHiawatha National Bank (21)
- 504 approvals recorded40
- 504 gross approval dollars$19.3 m
- Average 504 approval$481,575
- Median 504 approval$310,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval11.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved23.0
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (25)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$73.4 m
The average approval of $608,648 sits well above the median of $232,200, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 24.7 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 recorded18
- Paid in full17
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full17
- Status: Exempt from disclosure60
- Status: Cancelled9
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 18 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 lending15
- Osceola, approvals24
- St. Croix Falls, approvals13
- Amery, approvals11
- Luck, approvals8
- Centuria, approvals6
- Frederic, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Osceola | 24 | $12,488,500 |
| St. Croix Falls | 13 | $7,879,200 |
| Amery | 11 | $4,612,600 |
| Luck | 8 | $2,669,500 |
| Centuria | 6 | $6,361,100 |
| Frederic | 5 | $7,274,200 |
| Dresser | 4 | $878,900 |
| Clear Lake | 4 | $499,000 |
| 7 other borrower cities | 14 | $11,506,700 |
Osceola accounts for 24 approvals against 13 in St. Croix Falls. 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 area914 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties17th of 72
- Width, east to west35.6 mi
- Height, north to south35.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land50
- Establishments per square mile1.27
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 550577
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate87.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Polk County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Polk County (community 550577), 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 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 87.5 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 2020-202445,555
- Households19,542
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$77,219
- Median age46.7
Common questions
Polk County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Polk County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 45,831 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 45,555, in 19,542 households, ranking 32nd of 72 Wisconsin 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 1.92 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,969, to 45,831 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 414 births against 565 deaths, with net migration of 139. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Polk County?
$77,219. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,900, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $957 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Polk County?
1,163 establishments, employing 14,018 people with an annual payroll of $710.0 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?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,850 jobs, 23.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,162 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,798, or $919 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?
89 7(a) approvals totaling $54.2 m since FY2020, across 23 lenders, with a median approval of $232,200, plus 40 504 approvals worth $19.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Polk County?
247 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $48.4 m. Multifamily was 4.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Polk County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 St. Croix County, with 218 households. Arriving households report an average income of $80,123 against $62,153 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.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in Polk County. All 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amery | city | 2,959 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Osceola | village | 2,849 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Croix Falls | city | 2,423 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Frederic | village | 1,140 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Luck | village | 1,124 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Dresser | village | 1,028 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Turtle Lake | village | 960 | 1 | 22.6 percent here, 77.4 percent Barron County |
| Clear Lake | village | 957 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Milltown | village | 861 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Centuria | village | 806 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Balsam Lake | village | 754 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Clayton | village | 370 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lewis | CDP | 170 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 89 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Polk County, the largest being New Richmond (3), Star Prairie (2), Cushing (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.