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Polk County, Iowa: crime rate, income and local data
Polk County averaged 3.4 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year in 2021-2025, 26% higher than the Iowa rate (2.7). The median household earns $83,576 and the unemployment rate was 3.8% in August 2026. Population: about 503,175 (Census, 2020-2024).
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Polk County?
Over 2021-2025, the county's police agencies sent the FBI reports of about 1,862 violent and 10,387 property crimes per year. The violent rate, 3.4 per 1,000 people, is 26% higher than the Iowa rate (2.7); nationally it is 3.7. Property crime ran at 18.7 per 1,000, against 13.6 statewide. Aggravated assaults make up 78% of the violent total. CDC death records show about 20 homicide deaths a year in the county (4.1 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Polk County | Per 1,000 | Iowa per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 1,862 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 8 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 202 | 0.36 | 0.42 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 199 | 0.36 | 0.20 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 1,453 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 10,387 | 18.7 | 13.6 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 1,240 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 7,606 | 13.7 | 9.9 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 1,542 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (12 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Polk County?
Median household income is $83,576, 11% higher than the statewide figure ($75,059). The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $262,100 by its owners; renters pay a median $1,149. 9.8% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 8.8%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 3.8% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 10,917 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Polk County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 503,175 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $83,576 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $262,100 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,149 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 10.3% | 11.1% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8% | 8.8% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 40.3% | 31.4% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 67.4% | 71.7% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.6 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 91.9% | 88.9% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 5.3% | 5.0% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Polk County?
Polk County carries a “Relatively Moderate” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. The hazards rated highest here are tornadoes (Relatively High) and heat waves (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
EPA lists 3 active Superfund sites (final or proposed) in Polk County: Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination, Des Moines Tce and Lot 46 Valley Gardens Tce. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
The National Inventory of Dams lists 12 high-hazard dams in Polk County. None is rated Poor or Unsatisfactory; 7 are rated Satisfactory or Fair. The two tallest are Saylorville Dam (125 ft) and Big Creek Barrier Dam (84 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
32 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 801,472 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
Polk County was covered by 5 federal major disaster declarations from 2016 through 2025 (Severe Storm 3, Tornado 1, Flood 1), not counting COVID-19. In 2024, 0 of 366 monitored days had an air quality index of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse (EPA). Of 37 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 1 (highest). NHTSA counted 47 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 8 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Polk County?
Polk County had 139 highway work zones in the October 11, 2026 feed from the state DOT (23 active that day). Roads listed: I-80, I-35 and I-235. 125 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Polk County?
Federal school lists show 135 public and 20 private schools in the county. 30 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 34 fire or EMS stations and 12 police or sheriff stations. 3 state parks or recreation areas: Big Creek State Park, Margo Frankel Woods State Park and Walnut Woods State Park.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Polk County
Gun shops
18 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Polk County (17 from the ATF licensee list, 1 from OpenStreetMap), plus 55 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 4 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World 043 (Altoona), Battlehawk Armory (Grimes), Crossroads Shooting Sports (Johnston), Ezpawn (2 in Des Moines), Fleet Farm (Ankeny), Fusion Tactical LLC (Urbandale), Gregs Guns (Ankeny), Handi-Rackercom (Grimes) and 8 more.
Liquor stores
45 liquor stores are on the map in Polk County: Allcool Liquors (West Des Moines), Blind Pig Cocktail Bodega (West Des Moines), Central City Liquors (Des Moines), Eastend Liquor (Des Moines), Easy GO Liquor and Convenience (Des Moines), Easy GO! Liquor and Convenience (West Des Moines), First Stop Liquor Store (Des Moines), Grimes Liquor Shop (Grimes) and 37 more. Iowa has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.
Planned Parenthood
One Planned Parenthood health center is on the map in Polk County: Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Susan Knapp Health Center of Des Moines (Des Moines).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Polk County?
Polk County averaged 1,862 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 3.4 per 1,000 residents, 26% higher than the Iowa rate (2.7). The property-crime rate was 18.7 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Polk County?
$83,576 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $75,059 for Iowa and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Polk County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 3.8% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 10,917 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Polk County?
Polk County carries a “Relatively Moderate” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. The hazards rated highest here are tornadoes (Relatively High) and heat waves (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in Polk County?
EPA lists 3 active Superfund sites (final or proposed) in Polk County: Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination, Des Moines Tce and Lot 46 Valley Gardens Tce.
Is there road construction in Polk County right now?
Polk County had 139 highway work zones in the October 11, 2026 feed from the state DOT (23 active that day). Roads listed: I-80, I-35 and I-235. 125 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in Polk County?
30 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Polk County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 26,668 | 1.4 | $83,531 |
| Dallas County | 107,968 | 2.0 | $102,379 |
| Jasper County | 37,954 | 1.9 | $71,311 |
| Madison County | 16,926 | 1.3 | $90,855 |
| Marion County | 33,642 | 2.1 | $78,680 |
| Story County | 100,466 | 1.4 | $69,685 |
| Warren County | 54,409 | 1.6 | $94,588 |
Cities in Polk County with their own page: Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines.
More: Iowa statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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