CountyScore

Polk County

Iowa · IA

#99 in Iowa
58.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Polk County, Iowa

Polk County Trails National Average

Polk County's composite score of 58.1 ranks it in the 58th percentile nationally, slightly above the national median of 50.0 but below typical expectations for Iowa. It reflects the tradeoffs inherent in Iowa's largest, most economically dynamic county.

Below Iowa's State Average

Polk County scores 58.1, falling notably below Iowa's state average of 69.3 and placing it in the lower half of the state's 99 counties. This gap reflects urban pressures on housing costs and taxes.

Highest Incomes and Strong Healthcare

Polk County (which includes Des Moines) leads this group with the highest median household income of $81,621 (income score: 36.7) and solid health outcomes at 75.5. It's Iowa's economic engine, supporting professional careers and job growth.

Housing Costs and Tax Burden Weigh Down Score

The county's cost score of 66.7 reflects steep median home values ($248,400) and rents ($1,113/month)—the highest in this group. An effective tax rate of 1.757% is also the state's highest, and a risk score of just 8.0 signals significant economic vulnerability.

For Ambitious Professionals Accepting Urban Tradeoffs

Polk County suits career-driven professionals and entrepreneurs willing to pay premium housing costs for urban amenities, robust job markets, and economic dynamism. It sacrifices rural affordability for opportunity but rewards those with strong earning power.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax52.9Cost66.7SafetyComing SoonHealth75.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome36.7Risk8WaterComing Soon
🏛52.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠66.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼36.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤75.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡8
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Polk County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Osceola County
Florida
58.1
Median income: $68,711
DeKalb County
Georgia
58.1
Median income: $77,683
Chester County
Pennsylvania
58.1
Median income: $123,041
Providence County
Rhode Island
58.1
Median income: $78,204
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Alaska
58.2
Median income: $90,625

Deep Dives

Polk County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Polk County

via TaxByCounty

Polk County: Iowa's highest tax burden

Polk County's 1.757% effective tax rate ranks in the 80th percentile nationally, significantly above the national median of 1.23%. At $4,364 annually, the median tax bill nearly doubles the national median of $2,690, placing Polk among the nation's most expensive counties for property taxes.

Polk County leads Iowa in tax burden

Polk County's 1.757% effective rate is the highest among all Iowa counties in this comparison and 31% above the state average of 1.344%. The median annual tax of $4,364 far exceeds the state median of $2,160, driven by the county's strong property values centered on Des Moines.

Polk's rates far outpace surrounding counties

Polk County's 1.757% rate is nearly double Plymouth's 1.081% and substantially higher than Poweshiek (1.282%) and Pottawattamie (1.613%). Even among higher-value counties, Polk's tax burden stands out as exceptional.

What Polk County homeowners pay

A median Polk County home worth $248,400 generates roughly $4,364 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, expect $4,498; without one, the bill drops to $4,033.

High-value homes deserve careful review

In high-assessment markets like Polk County, overvaluation is common and appeals are worth pursuing. Request a full assessment breakdown, compare your value to recent comparable sales, and consider filing an appeal if your assessed value appears inflated.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Polk County

via CostByCounty

Iowa's urban core tests affordability limits

Polk County's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio exceeds the national average, placing it among the country's more expensive housing markets relative to local incomes. At $1,113 per month, median rents run 37% above the state average, reflecting the Des Moines metro's status as a regional economic hub.

Most expensive county in Iowa by far

Polk County tops all Iowa counties for housing costs as a share of income, with renters spending 16.4%—significantly above the state average of 14.1%. This reflects Des Moines' urban premium, where higher incomes ($81,621 median) still struggle to keep pace with rising rental and ownership costs.

Urban premium over surrounding counties

Polk County's $1,113 rent far exceeds rural neighbors like Poweshiek County ($864) and Pottawattamie County ($970), a 29–52% difference. The premium reflects metropolitan demand concentrated around Des Moines, creating a sharp affordability divide between the city and surrounding agricultural counties.

Ownership costs far exceed rent burden

Renters spend $1,113 monthly while homeowners pay $1,409—a $296 gap reflecting median home values of $248,400, the highest in the dataset. Combined with strong local incomes of $81,621, ownership consumes 20.7% of income for buyers, versus 16.4% for renters.

Urban opportunity with urban housing costs

Relocating professionals drawn to Des Moines' job market and amenities should budget carefully for housing, as Polk County rents and prices run well above Iowa averages. Renters may find better affordability in surrounding counties while commuting, but direct Des Moines living commands a premium.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Polk County

via IncomeByCounty

Polk County Beats National Average

Polk County's median household income of $81,621 surpasses the national median of $74,755 by nearly $6,900. This strong position reflects Des Moines's role as Iowa's economic and employment hub.

Iowa's Top Income County

Polk County's $81,621 median income ranks among the highest in Iowa, exceeding the state average of $69,830 by $11,800. As home to the capital and largest metro area, Polk drives the state's economic performance.

Outpaces Surrounding Rural Counties

Polk County ($81,621) significantly outearns Pottawattamie County ($71,446) and Poweshiek County ($64,837) in adjacent areas. The metro advantage provides diverse job markets and higher-wage opportunities.

Urban Costs Challenge Affordability

Polk County's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio remains manageable, though median home values of $248,400 require substantial household income. Des Moines's higher living costs consume a larger share of income than rural Iowa counties.

Use Metro Advantages to Build Wealth

Polk County residents benefit from higher incomes and diverse employer-sponsored retirement plans in Des Moines's job market. Maximize 401(k) matches, diversify investments, and consider tax-efficient strategies like HSAs to accelerate wealth accumulation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Polk County

via HealthByCounty

Polk County's health reflects urban complexity

At 77.2 years, Polk County's life expectancy sits slightly below the U.S. average of 78.1 years, despite housing Iowa's capital and largest metro area. A 17.0% poor or fair health rate indicates that urban density and economic diversity haven't eliminated underlying health disparities.

Urban county trails Iowa state average

Polk County's 77.2-year life expectancy ranks below Iowa's 77.7 average, surprising for the state's most populous and economically robust county. However, its 5.5% uninsured rate nearly matches the state average, suggesting coverage isn't the primary driver of modest health outcomes.

Urban center outpaces rural competitors on access

Polk County's 93 primary care providers per 100,000 residents vastly exceed rural neighbors like Pocahontas (28) and Palo Alto (45), reflecting Des Moines's urban advantage. With 351 mental health providers per 100K—the highest of any county profiled—Polk County offers unmatched behavioral health infrastructure.

Healthcare abundance masks persistent inequity

Polk County's 93 primary care and 351 mental health providers per 100,000 residents create Iowa's densest healthcare network, yet 5.5% remain uninsured and 17% report poor health. This suggests that access infrastructure alone doesn't guarantee equitable outcomes—social determinants and care quality play equally critical roles.

Access Polk's abundant healthcare resources

With 5.5% of Polk County residents uninsured and the state's best provider availability, there's no reason to delay enrollment at Healthcare.gov or through your employer. Security your coverage now and take full advantage of Des Moines's unmatched primary care and mental health resources.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Polk County

via RiskByCounty

Polk County faces the nation's significant hazard exposure

At 91.98, Polk County's composite risk score ranks among America's highest for disaster exposure, earning a Relatively Moderate rating well above the national average. This reflects concerning levels across multiple hazard types, particularly tornadoes and flooding.

Iowa's highest-risk county by composite score

Polk County's 91.98 score dwarfs Iowa's state average of 39.68, making it by far the riskiest county in the state. Elevated tornado (98.12), flood (92.14), and earthquake (66.76) risks create a layered hazard environment unmatched elsewhere in Iowa.

Polk faces dramatically higher risk than peers

Neighboring Pottawattamie County (80.44) and Poweshiek County (31.27) both carry substantially lower risk than Polk County. Polk's position as Iowa's urban center (Des Moines) exposes more people and infrastructure to its concentrated hazard profile.

Tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes pose serious threats

Tornado risk (98.12), flood risk (92.14), and earthquake risk (66.76) are all dangerously elevated in Polk County, with tornado exposure nearly maxed on the hazard scale. These overlapping threats create a complex risk environment that demands serious preparedness planning.

Comprehensive insurance is essential for Polk County

Polk County residents must maintain robust homeowners insurance covering tornadoes, hail, wind, and flood damage—with separate flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program if applicable. Establish a family safety plan with multiple shelter options and keep emergency supplies accessible.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.