Housing data for Polk City, IA
Polk City, IA has an estimated 6,037 residents and 2,231 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a city in Polk County.
10.9% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $782 a month.
Its population grew measurably since 2015–2019 (+30.5%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 6,037 (±18)
- Housing units
- 2,231 (±127)
- Households that rent
- 10.9%
- Median gross rent
- $782
- Residents since 2015–2019
- +30.5%
What stands out in Polk City
Median household income: $164,389 (±$22,194) in Polk City, higher than in Polk County ($83,576).
Homes in buildings of 5 or more units: 3.0% (±5.0 points) in Polk City, lower than in Polk County (23.8%).
Median home value: $414,800 (±$26,207) in Polk City, higher than in Polk County ($262,100).
Households that rent: 10.9% (±6.3 points) in Polk City, lower than in Polk County (32.6%).
Housing in Polk City at a glance
- Median rent: $782 median gross rent a month
- Rent burden: 45.3% of renters pay 30% or more of income (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Renters and owners: 10.9% of households rent (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Income and affordability: $164,389 median household income
- Home values: $414,800 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $2,569 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $6,696 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 3.0% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 86.3% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Age of homes: 20.8% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 0.0% rental vacancy rate (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Heating fuel: 72.8% heat with utility gas
- Commute and cars: 24.3 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 15 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: +30.5% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 19.3% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 0.0% of homes have more than 1 person per room
Polk City against Polk County, its state and the nation
| Polk City | Polk County | Iowa | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 6,037 (±18) | 503,175 (exact) | 3,210,507 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 2,231 (±127) | 218,486 (±136) | 1,437,699 (±523) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 10.9% (±6.3 points) | 32.6% (±0.8 points) | 28.3% (±0.3 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $782 (±$177) | $1,149 (±$16) | $972 (±$6) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $164,389 (±$22,194) | $83,576 (±$1,283) | $75,059 (±$418) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $414,800 (±$26,207) | $262,100 (±$3,486) | $208,000 (±$1,141) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $6,696 (±$486) | $4,396 (±$57) | $2,897 (±$13) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 20.8% (±8.1 points) | 48.6% (±1.1 points) | 61.5% (±0.4 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 24.3 minutes (±2.6) | 20.0 minutes (±0.3) | 19.8 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 94.0% (±4.8 points) | 91.9% (±0.6 points) | 88.9% (±0.2 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 39.1 years (±7.0) | 36.2 years (±0.2) | 38.6 years (±0.2) | 38.9 years |
Polk City covers 5.6 square miles of land, about 1,087 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How Polk City has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 4,625 (±19) | 6,037 (±18) | +30.5% | Measurable increase |
| Housing units | 1,527 (±143) | 2,231 (±127) | +46.1% | Measurable increase |
| Median gross rent | $1,152 (±$49) | $782 (±$177) | −32.1% | Down after inflation |
| Median home value | $249,000 (±$29,947) | $414,800 (±$26,207) | +66.6% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $104,750 (±$5,712) | $164,389 (±$22,194) | +56.9% | Up after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $1,697 (±$177) | $2,569 (±$261) | +51.4% | Up after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $4,540 (±$379) | $6,696 (±$486) | +47.5% | Up after inflation |
| Households that rent | 16.5% (±5.5 points) | 10.9% (±6.3 points) | −5.6 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% (±8.9 points) | 0.0% (±10.0 points) | 0.0 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Polk City
In 2025, the Polk City Police Department reported 15 violent and 511 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
Across Polk County, the departments that report recorded 387 violent and 1,923 property crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
ZIP codes in Polk City
| ZIP code | Share of the ZIP’s land in this place | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50226 | 14% | 7,759 | $867 | $417,500 | $153,011 |
A ZIP code is a mail route rather than a boundary, so the Census Bureau publishes figures for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks; the share column says how much of each one’s land lies in this place.
Places near Polk City
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granger | 5.1 mi | $843 | $329,400 | 19.2% |
| Sheldahl | 5.9 mi | — | $184,700 | 7.0% |
| Alleman | 6.1 mi | — | $299,200 | 0.0% |
| Johnston | 6.2 mi | $1,338 | $369,100 | 29.2% |
| Slater | 7.0 mi | $895 | $232,800 | 16.3% |
| Ankeny | 7.2 mi | $1,319 | $331,000 | 28.7% |
| Madrid | 8.2 mi | $1,029 | $185,600 | 16.0% |
| Grimes | 8.3 mi | $1,251 | $304,700 | 29.1% |
Places in Iowa most like Polk City
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumming | $1,163 | $508,000 | $162,875 | 12.4% |
| Granger | $843 | $329,400 | $112,404 | 19.2% |
| Atkins | $604 | $314,900 | $112,138 | 8.9% |
| Robins | $956 | $413,400 | $122,262 | 7.5% |
| Peosta | $1,056 | $336,000 | $120,833 | 12.3% |
| Urbana | $860 | $228,900 | $115,655 | 11.8% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across Iowa.
HUD Fair Market Rent for Polk City, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,102 | $1,145 | $1,360 | $1,856 | $1,901 |
HUD income limits for Polk City, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely 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 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $116,400.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Polk City
What is the average rent in Polk City, IA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in Polk City is $782 (±$177) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
What is the median household income in Polk City?
The median household income in Polk City is $164,389 (±$22,194) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in Polk City, IA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $414,800 (±$26,207) for owner-occupied homes in Polk City (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average mortgage payment in Polk City?
The Census Bureau publishes total owner costs rather than the mortgage alone: the median for owners with a mortgage in Polk City, IA is $2,569 (±$261) a month, including taxes, insurance and utilities.
How much are property taxes in Polk City?
The median real estate tax paid by homeowners in Polk City, IA is $6,696 (±$486) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many homes are in Polk City?
Polk City, IA has an estimated 2,231 (±127) housing units, occupied and vacant (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is Polk City growing?
In Polk City, the number of residents went from 4,625 in 2015–2019 to 6,037 in 2020–2024 (+30.5%), a measurable increase.
What ZIP codes are in Polk City?
The ZIP code that covers Polk City is 50226.
What is the median rent in ZIP code 50226?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50226 is $867 (±$211) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Polk City city, Iowa
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Polk City city, Iowa
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Polk City city, Iowa
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Polk City city, Iowa
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Polk City city, Iowa
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Polk City city, Iowa
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Polk City city, Iowa
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: Polk City Police Department (ORI IA0771800)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Polk City city, Iowa (place:64020, in state:19).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
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 .