Polk City is a small town of 5,604 in Iowa, with a median household income of $152,536
and a 3.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Polk City stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Polk City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Polk City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.7
Polk City's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Polk City costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Polk City, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$363,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$723
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$152,536
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Polk City's violent crime rate is 30.5 per 100,000 residents
— 92% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
30.5 /100k
Property Crime
289.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Polk City is served primarily by North Polk Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Polk City, IA
National Avg
School District
North Polk Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
46.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
99.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Polk City sees average highs of 30.0°F in January
and 84.7°F in July,
with 36.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Polk City's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Polk City roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $363,100 and median rent is $723/month.
Polk City's violent crime rate is 30.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 289.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Polk City are operated by North Polk Comm School District.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 46.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Polk City, IA has a population of 5,604, a median household income of $152,536, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Polk City averages 30.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.2 inches
with about 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Polk City, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50226.
The population of Polk City, Iowa is 5,604 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Polk City: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $363,100, median household income $152,536, crime index 10 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Polk City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
