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Polk County, MO
8 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Polk County, Missouri.
Population
32,444
Land area
636sq mi
People per sq mi
51
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Polk County
Polk County at a glance
- Polk County is 43% less dense than Missouri as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $59,647 a year, 16% less than the Missouri figure of $70,702.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $205,800 (11% below Missouri) and median rent is $814 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Bolivar (11,170), Humansville (1,058) and Pleasant Hope (716).
Local data for Polk County, MO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Polk County, MO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$59,647
Poverty rate
16.3%
Median home value
$205,800
Prices +4.0% in a year
Median rent
$814/mo
Homeownership
71.6%
Bachelor's or higher
22.5%
Median age
38.1
Average commute
28.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,354), Irish Americans (3,080), Scottish Americans (680).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Sep 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,058
9,202 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$47,173
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$190M
FY 2026, $6,032 per person
PPP loans
$29M
1,292 loans, 4,314 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$40.2K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Polk County, MO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.5%
- Carpooled8.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.5%
- Bicycle0.5%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home9.3%
Average one-way commute: 28.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Polk County, MO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
905
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
3
0.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 22°F
46.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Polk County, MO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.7%
U.S. 33.3% +5.4 pts
Diabetes
13.0%
U.S. 12.1% +0.9 pts
Smoking
18.9%
U.S. 12.8% +6.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.8%
U.S. 11.1% -1.3 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Polk County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Polk County, MO?
- Bolivar is the largest city or town in Polk County, with about 11,170 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Polk County?
- Polk County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 65601, 65613, 65617, 65640, 65663.
- What is the population of Polk County, MO?
- About 32,444 people live in Polk County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Polk County?
- Polk County borders Greene County, Dallas County, Cedar County, St. Clair County, Hickory County, Dade County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023