What are the schools like in Polk, NE?

Polk is served primarily by HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 7.9:1.

What is the median household income in Polk?

The median household income in Polk, NE is $51,167 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Polk, NE?

Polk has an average high temperature of 34.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.5 inches.

Polk, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Polk, NE affordable or expensive?

Polk's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Polk is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $71,300 and the median rent is $567 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Polk, NE?

Crime rate data for Polk is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Polk, NE a Good Place to Live?

Polk is a small town of 336 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $51,167 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

Strengths: Polk stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Polk is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Polk 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: 84.0

Polk's overall cost of living index is 84.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Polk costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Polk, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$71,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$567	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,167	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Polk is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Polk is served primarily by HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Polk, NE	National Avg
School District	HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	7.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Polk sees average highs of 34.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 28.1 inches of annual precipitation and 26.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Polk, NE
Average High — January	34.8°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	28.1"
Annual Snowfall	26.5"

Demographics

Metric	Polk, NE	National Avg
Population	336	—
Median Age	43.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.8%	22.2%
65 and over	21.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hordville, NE 6 mi Clarks, NE 10 mi Overland, NE 10 mi Benedict, NE 10 mi Stromsburg, NE 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Polk

Polk, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68654

Polk vs Other Cities

Polk, NE vs Hordville, NE Polk, NE vs Clarks, NE Polk, NE vs Overland, NE Polk, NE vs Benedict, NE Polk, NE vs Stromsburg, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polk, NE affordable or expensive?

Polk's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Polk roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $71,300 and median rent is $567/month.

What is the crime rate in Polk, NE?

Crime data for Polk is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Polk?

Public schools in Polk are operated by HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.9:1. 13.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Polk, NE a good place to live?

Polk, NE has a population of 336, a median household income of $51,167, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Polk?

Polk averages 34.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.1 inches with about 26.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Polk?

Polk, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68654.

What is the population of Polk?

The population of Polk, Nebraska is 336 with a median age of 43.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Polk?

Key numbers for living in Polk: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $71,300, median household income $51,167, schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Polk side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.