Housing by town in Polk County, Iowa

Polk County, Iowa has 17 places with Census figures, and its median gross rent is $1,149 (±$16) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

32.6% of its households rent.

The median gross rent was $910 in 2015–2019 (+26.3%; Up after inflation).

Windsor Heights has the highest median gross rent ($1,498) and Runnells the lowest ($444).

Figures last updated on .

Median gross rent
$1,149 (±$16)
Households that rent
32.6%
Median household income
$83,576
Places
17

Cities, towns and townships in Polk County

Census estimates, 2020–2024
PlaceMedian gross rentHouseholds that rentMedian household incomeMedian home valueMedian real estate taxes
Alleman—0.0%$121,875$299,200$5,625
Altoona$1,23531.3%$86,114$274,600$4,392
Ankeny$1,31928.7%$108,198$331,000$5,569
Bondurant$1,3379.0%$135,674$318,800$5,089
Clive$1,07324.6%$132,121$401,100$5,944
Des Moines$1,09039.5%$65,932$194,700$3,496
Elkhart$83618.9%$84,554$253,900$3,747
Grimes$1,25129.1%$120,037$304,700$5,377
Johnston$1,33829.2%$106,551$369,100$6,577
Mitchellville$77921.6%$81,172$206,600$3,168
Pleasant Hill$1,21521.6%$90,508$295,100$4,807
Polk City$78210.9%$164,389$414,800$6,696
Runnells$44414.4%$101,500$231,600$3,657
Saylorville—6.3%$117,821$314,300$4,121
Urbandale$1,21121.9%$112,795$335,500$5,563
West Des Moines$1,23742.6%$86,594$309,000$4,711
Windsor Heights$1,49821.3%$91,707$267,900$4,732

HUD income limits, fiscal year 2026

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area, annual household income
Household sizeExtremely low (30%)Very low (50%)Low (80%)
1 person$24,450$40,750$65,200
2 people$27,950$46,600$74,500
3 people$31,450$52,400$83,800
4 people$34,900$58,200$93,100
5 people$38,680$62,900$100,550
6 people$44,360$67,550$108,000
7 people$50,040$72,200$115,450
8 people$55,720$76,850$122,900

How the places in Polk County rank across Iowa

Crime reported to police in Polk County

Offenses known to law enforcement, reported to the FBI by the departments that serve the county; rates per 100,000 residents
YearViolent crimesViolent per 100,000Property crimesProperty per 100,000Residents servedDepartments reporting in full
20231,7444339,4302,339403,2108 of 9
20241,7694198,9922,131421,9809 of 9
20251,6453878,1741,923424,9759 of 9

In 2025, the police departments that report for Polk County recorded 1,645 violent and 8,174 property crimes, 387 and 1,923 per 100,000 residents.

Every department with residents of its own in the county reported every month that year.

The county figure adds up its city and town police, its sheriff and any state police with residents of their own; a university or transit force is left out, because the people it serves are already counted by the town around them.

The FBI asks that these figures not be used to rank places or to judge how safe a neighborhood is.

Police departments in Polk County, 2025

Each department’s own report to the FBI; a dash means it did not report every month
DepartmentResidents servedViolent crimesProperty crimes
Des Moines Police Department212,9331,3676,043
Ankeny Police Department78,916119815
Polk County Sheriff's Office55,86278442
Johnston Police Department25,28721171
Altoona Police Department23,37643327
Pleasant Hill Police Department12,434594
Polk City Police Department6,657134
Windsor Heights Police Department5,0744222
Carlisle Police Department4,436726

ZIP codes in Polk County

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas whose land lies mostly in this county (2020–2024 estimates)
ZIP codeResidentsMedian gross rentMedian home valueMedian household incomeHouseholds that rent
5002346,306$1,240$345,100$117,82628.5%
5031736,548$1,102$177,600$65,61727.5%
5031534,816$1,001$173,200$60,59038.5%
5026533,488$1,106$281,800$85,91533.6%
5032231,931$1,186$276,200$92,08527.2%
5031031,177$1,113$222,700$76,38130.4%
5002130,283$1,393$317,200$99,57225.5%
5032024,807$1,166$216,900$85,10526.5%
5013124,583$1,338$369,400$106,55128.9%
5000922,886$1,232$278,300$88,44729.5%
5032519,012$1,073$401,100$132,12124.6%
5031317,440$1,085$175,100$68,36123.1%
5011116,865$1,251$308,800$120,76928.3%
5031616,710$952$154,300$56,09033.4%
5031215,802$1,074$291,900$92,24236.3%
5031114,574$1,029$226,500$61,95751.6%
5032713,177$1,226$314,400$98,33319.0%
5031410,438$950$147,900$39,95052.3%
5003510,131$1,289$323,000$134,9069.0%
5030910,110$1,223$292,500$56,77789.4%
503217,900$1,128$320,500$80,35140.2%
502267,759$867$417,500$153,01110.5%
503245,143$1,498$267,900$91,70721.3%
501693,667$809$227,000$83,93817.6%
502373,635$760$346,900$101,8068.8%
501093,309$843$370,100$118,66914.3%
501612,296$1,063$256,500$98,51910.6%
502441,729$895$250,800$120,31313.2%
500731,208$841$274,700$100,97213.4%
50032707———18.4%
50007444—$308,300$120,4170.0%
50243361—$184,700$80,9387.0%

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Questions about Polk County

What is the crime rate in Polk County?

In 2025, the police departments that report for Polk County recorded 387 violent and 1,923 property crimes per 100,000 residents (1,645 violent and 8,174 property crimes in all).

Which place in Polk County has the highest rent?

Windsor Heights has the highest median gross rent, $1,498 (±$339) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Which place in Polk County has the lowest rent?

Runnells has the lowest median gross rent, $444 (±$275) a month.

What is the median rent in Polk County, Iowa?

The median gross rent in Polk County is $1,149 (±$16) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Sources

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.

Figures last updated on .

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