County profile · Minnesota
Polk County, MN market data
How Polk County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 30,545
- −1.8% since 2020
- Households
- 12,360
- Median household income
- $73,107
- +23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $222,800
- Jobs located here
- 11,668
- Highest market score
- 71
- Salons, barbers and spas, #251 of 2,385 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Polk County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Polk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Polk County has an estimated 30,545 people and 12,360 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Polk County declined 1.8%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Polk County is $73,107, 9% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 23.2%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Polk County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (68).
Of the business types scored in Polk County, salons, barbers and spas (71); fast food and sandwich shops (68); and bakeries and dessert shops (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For salons, barbers and spas, that ranks #251 of 2,385 scored counties.
Polk County is part of the Grand Forks metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (73% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (77% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Polk County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Polk County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salons, barbers and spas | 71 | #251 of 2,385 | 30 | 24.3 | $396K | 186 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 68 | #424 of 2,222 | 11 | 8.9 | $4.3M | 139 | 16 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 67 | #331 of 1,889 | 8 | 6.5 | $5.9M | 141 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 67 | #446 of 2,087 | 6 | 4.9 | $4M | 311 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 67 | #458 of 2,401 | 43 | 34.8 | $333K | 124 | 14 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 66 | #315 of 2,176 | 8 | 6.5 | Index only | 387 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 66 | #490 of 2,378 | 24 | 19.4 | $597K | 134 | 11 |
| Hair salons | 64 | #478 of 2,339 | 18 | 14.6 | $660K | 153 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 64 | #554 of 2,210 | 12 | 9.7 | $2M | 224 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 61 | #523 of 2,229 | 11 | 8.9 | Index only | 354 | 10 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 61 | #716 of 2,405 | 102 | 82.5 | $459K | 124 | 41 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 60 | #556 of 1,886 | 10 | 8.1 | $1.7M | 173 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 55 | #964 of 2,394 | 78 | 63.1 | $218K | 143 | 23 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 54 | #849 of 2,088 | 14 | 11.3 | $743K | 112 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 54 | #898 of 2,200 | 12 | 9.7 | $846K | 96 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 53 | #765 of 1,769 | 9 | 7.3 | $1.3M | 151 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 53 | #1,028 of 2,405 | 56 | 45.3 | $836K | 126 | 21 |
| Physical therapy | 52 | #663 of 1,422 | 6 | 4.9 | $2.8M | 118 | 5 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 50 | #1,016 of 2,063 | 15 | 12.1 | $3.1M | 84 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 50 | #1,117 of 2,261 | 11 | 8.9 | $6.7M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 49 | #755 of 1,490 | 7 | 5.7 | $2.4M | 102 | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 46 | #986 of 1,707 | 7 | 5.7 | $4.6M | 96 | 10 |
| Gyms | 46 | #1,050 of 1,792 | 9 | 7.3 | $1.2M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 45 | #1,260 of 2,057 | 12 | 9.7 | $2.7M | 110 | 23 |
| Pizza | 43 | #1,338 of 2,090 | 17 | 13.8 | $2.8M | 54 | 16 |
| Veterinarians | 37 | #1,035 of 1,485 | 5 | 4.0 | $2M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 37 | #1,341 of 1,771 | 10 | 8.1 | $1.5M | 88 | 17 |
| Child care and preschools | 36 | #1,192 of 1,611 | 8 | 6.5 | $609K | 61 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 36 | #1,746 of 2,358 | 22 | 17.8 | $1.7M | 70 | 18 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 36 | #1,756 of 2,402 | 37 | 29.9 | $2M | 58 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | 29 | #1,675 of 2,070 | 13 | 10.5 | $5.6M | 61 | 7 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 25 | #1,144 of 1,302 | 8 | 6.5 | $2.1M | 68 | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 21 | #1,432 of 1,493 | 8 | 6.5 | $1.8M | 63 | 17 |
| Insurance agencies | 12 | #2,226 of 2,272 | 28 | 22.7 | $787K | 63 | 26 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.5M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $4.3M | 239 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $4.8M | 189 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $4.8M | 155 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $10.7M | 89 | 13 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $641K | 94 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.5M | 172 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | Index only | Too few | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $16.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $23.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $11.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Polk County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $14.3M | $1,159 | 121 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $36.6M | $2,960 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $46.8M | $3,787 | 93 |
| Groceries | $73.2M | $5,924 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.9M | $961 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.9M | $394 | 68 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.4M | $841 | 86 |
| Medical and dental services | $17M | $1,379 | 107 |
| Pets | $10.2M | $821 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $23.7M | $1,918 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $22M | $1,783 | 91 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $32.1M | $2,598 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $14.7M | $1,191 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $168.7M | $13,650 | 82 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Polk County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 30,545−1.8% since 2020
- Households
- 12,360
- Median age
- 39.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 1,971 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 16
- Median household income
- $73,107+23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $90,262
- Median home value
- $222,800
- Jobs located here
- 11,668
- Daytime population
- 27,729Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Polk County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Polk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Mahnomen County, MN5,358 people
- Clearwater County, MN8,616 people
- Clay County, MN66,059 people
- Kittson County, MN4,084 people
Questions
How fast is Polk County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Polk County at 30,545 people in 2025, down 1.8% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 12,360 households. Median household income rose 23.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Polk County, MN spend?
Households in Polk County spend about $168.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $73.2M on groceries and $46.8M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Polk County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (68).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Polk County, MN?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Polk County are for salons, barbers and spas (71); fast food and sandwich shops (68); and bakeries and dessert shops (67). Polk County ranks #251 of 2,385 scored counties for salons, barbers and spas.
How does Polk County, MN compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Polk County is $73,107 a year, 9% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $222,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Polk County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (73% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (77% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in Polk County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Polk County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Polk County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Polk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.