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Polk County, MN
15 cities and towns and 16 ZIP codes in Polk County, Minnesota.
Population
30,705
Land area
1,971sq mi
People per sq mi
16
ZIP codes
16
Cities and towns in Polk County
Polk County at a glance
- Polk County is 78% less dense than Minnesota as a whole.
- The median household income is $73,107, 18% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $222,800 (32% below Minnesota) and median rent is $855 a month.
- Its largest cities are East Grand Forks (9,028), Crookston (7,344) and Fosston (1,374).
Local data for Polk County, MN
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes4
- Schools23
- Colleges2
- Libraries6
- Banks14
- Post Offices7
- Parks25
- Grocery Stores16
- Restaurants63
- Affordable Housing5
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools4
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places6
Housing and community stats
Polk County, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$73,107
Poverty rate
11.9%
Median home value
$222,800
Prices +3.6% in a year
Median rent
$855/mo
Homeownership
71.3%
Bachelor's or higher
28.0%
Median age
39.8
Average commute
18.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Norwegian Americans (10,296), German Americans (8,130), Irish Americans (2,234).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Sep 2026, +0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,767
12,003 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$62,060
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$211M
FY 2026, $6,767 per person
PPP loans
$94.9M
2,461 loans, 10,960 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$698K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Polk County, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.3%
- Carpooled6.7%
- Public transit1.6%
- Walked6.2%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home5.8%
Average one-way commute: 18.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Polk County, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
1,375
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
102
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
80° / -4°F
22.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Polk County, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.4%
U.S. 33.3% +6.1 pts
Diabetes
11.3%
U.S. 12.1% -0.8 pts
Smoking
15.3%
U.S. 12.8% +2.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.3%
U.S. 11.1% -2.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Polk County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Polk County, MN?
- East Grand Forks is the largest city or town in Polk County, with about 9,028 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Polk County?
- Polk County includes 16 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 56517, 56523, 56535, 56540, 56542.
- What is the population of Polk County, MN?
- About 30,705 people live in Polk County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Polk County?
- Polk County borders Grand Forks County, ND, Pennington County, Marshall County, Clearwater County, Traill County, ND, Norman County, Mahnomen County, Red Lake County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023