County profile · Missouri
Polk County, MO market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Polk County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 33,604
- +6.3% since 2020
- Households
- 12,059
- Median household income
- $59,647
- +30.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $205,800
- Jobs located here
- 10,220
- Highest market score
- 86
- Dentists and orthodontists, #17 of 1,886 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
An estimated 33,604 people live in Polk County, in 12,059 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Polk County grew 6.3%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Polk County is $59,647 a year, 26% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 30.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
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 (57).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Polk County are for dentists and orthodontists (86), primary care and pediatric clinics (81) and fast food and sandwich shops (69). Polk County ranks #17 of 1,886 scored counties for dentists and orthodontists.
Polk County is part of the Springfield metro area. For its number of households, Polk County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for veterinarians (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for gyms and studios (39% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 86 | #17 of 1,886 | 6 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 259 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 81 | #85 of 1,656 | 6 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 143 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 69 | #402 of 2,222 | 11 | 9.1 | $3.8M | 123 | 19 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 69 | #471 of 2,402 | 20 | 16.6 | $3.4M | 100 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 68 | #319 of 2,088 | 11 | 9.1 | $784K | 118 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 68 | #456 of 2,070 | 6 | 5.0 | $11.3M | 121 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 65 | #337 of 1,490 | 6 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 106 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 65 | #533 of 2,401 | 44 | 36.5 | $317K | 118 | 23 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 65 | #539 of 2,405 | 52 | 43.1 | $795K | 120 | 16 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 64 | #599 of 2,394 | 91 | 75.5 | $168K | 110 | 11 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 63 | #634 of 2,405 | 93 | 77.1 | $444K | 120 | 45 |
| Gyms | 60 | #532 of 1,792 | 7 | 5.8 | $1.2M | 95 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 59 | #470 of 1,327 | 6 | 5.0 | $2.3M | 75 | 3 |
| Barbershops | 58 | #491 of 1,356 | 5 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 113 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 58 | #513 of 1,422 | 7 | 5.8 | $2.2M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 58 | #605 of 1,889 | 7 | 5.8 | $5.9M | 142 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 56 | #841 of 2,087 | 19 | 15.8 | $1.1M | 89 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 55 | #928 of 2,210 | 27 | 22.4 | $792K | 90 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 55 | #965 of 2,358 | 22 | 18.2 | $1.6M | 69 | 14 |
| Tire shops | 54 | #680 of 1,530 | 6 | 5.0 | $2.3M | 93 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 54 | #1,029 of 2,378 | 35 | 29.0 | $399K | 90 | 15 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 52 | #777 of 1,771 | 8 | 6.6 | $1.7M | 100 | 16 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 51 | #682 of 1,493 | 6 | 5.0 | $2.2M | 76 | 9 |
| Convenience stores | 51 | #1,096 of 2,261 | 13 | 10.8 | $5.2M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #1,345 of 2,339 | 32 | 26.5 | $333K | 77 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 47 | #1,367 of 2,385 | 53 | 44.0 | $201K | 94 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 45 | #1,291 of 2,272 | 17 | 14.1 | $1.3M | 103 | 13 |
| Pizza | 44 | #1,289 of 2,090 | 17 | 14.1 | $2.4M | 48 | 19 |
| Home repair trades | 44 | #1,322 of 2,057 | 15 | 12.4 | $2M | 81 | 19 |
| Real estate | 44 | #1,407 of 2,229 | 29 | 24.0 | Index only | 123 | 14 |
| Child care and preschools | 43 | #1,026 of 1,611 | 8 | 6.6 | $496K | 50 | 5 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 43 | #1,117 of 1,707 | 9 | 7.5 | $3.3M | 69 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 43 | #1,419 of 2,176 | 24 | 19.9 | Index only | 118 | 9 |
| Spas and skin care | 40 | #1,245 of 1,769 | 12 | 10.0 | $887K | 101 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #1,390 of 2,063 | 13 | 10.8 | $3.2M | 86 | 9 |
| Pet stores | 28 | #818 of 974 | 5 | 4.1 | $1.8M | 40 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 25 | #2,020 of 2,200 | 24 | 19.9 | $373K | 42 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 22 | #1,363 of 1,485 | 10 | 8.3 | $895K | 33 | 11 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $2.2M | 107 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $2.2M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $7.4M | 87 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $661K | 97 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.5M | 212 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $5.1M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | Index only | 93 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $10.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $14.7M | Too few | 5 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $6.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $14M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $21.4M | Too few | 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 | 7 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 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 | $14M | $1,157 | 121 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $36.1M | $2,997 | 115 |
| Food away from home | $41.3M | $3,426 | 84 |
| Groceries | $67.7M | $5,616 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $10.6M | $883 | 88 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4M | $329 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $8.6M | $715 | 73 |
| Medical and dental services | $15.3M | $1,267 | 98 |
| Pets | $9M | $742 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $21.4M | $1,774 | 86 |
| Vehicle insurance | $21.9M | $1,817 | 93 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $29.4M | $2,441 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $13.4M | $1,112 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $155M | $12,850 | 77 |
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
- 33,604+6.3% since 2020
- Households
- 12,059
- Median age
- 39.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 636 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 51
- Median household income
- $59,647+30.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $80,496
- Median home value
- $205,800
- Jobs located here
- 10,220
- Daytime population
- 28,041Residents 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
Nearest counties in Missouri 8
- Dallas County, MO17,551 people
- Hickory County, MO8,585 people
- Dade County, MO7,641 people
- Cedar County, MO14,615 people
- Greene County, MO303,375 people
- Webster County, MO40,500 people
- St. Clair County, MO9,587 people
- Christian County, MO92,915 people
Questions
How fast is Polk County, MO growing?
Population estimates put Polk County at 33,604 people in 2025, up 6.3% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 12,059 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 30.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Polk County, MO spend?
Households in Polk County spend about $155M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $67.7M on groceries and $41.3M on food away from home. 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 (57).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Polk County, MO?
Of the business types scored in Polk County, dentists and orthodontists (86), primary care and pediatric clinics (81) and fast food and sandwich shops (69) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #17 of 1,886 scored counties.
How does Polk County, MO compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Polk County is $59,647, 26% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 6.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $205,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for veterinarians (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for gyms and studios (39% 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. 38 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.