County profile · Wisconsin
Polk County, WI market data
How Polk County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 45,803
- +1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 19,542
- Median household income
- $77,219
- +28.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $271,900
- Jobs located here
- 16,552
- Highest market score
- 86
- Primary care and pediatrics, #27 of 1,656 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 45,803 people and 19,542 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Polk County grew 1.7%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Polk County is $77,219, 4% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 28.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Polk County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 129, 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, primary care and pediatric clinics (86), fast food and sandwich shops (80) and physical therapy clinics (77) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #27 of 1,656 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (43% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 86 | #27 of 1,656 | 5 | 2.6 | $5.5M | 309 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 80 | #119 of 2,222 | 15 | 7.7 | $5M | 165 | 22 |
| Physical therapy | 77 | #103 of 1,422 | 7 | 3.6 | $3.9M | 164 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 75 | #79 of 1,334 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.4M | 168 | 3 |
| Nail salons | 75 | #81 of 1,328 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.9M | 231 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 75 | #241 of 2,087 | 18 | 9.2 | $2.1M | 167 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 73 | #298 of 2,210 | 28 | 14.3 | $1.4M | 155 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 72 | #214 of 2,088 | 23 | 11.8 | $739K | 112 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 69 | #248 of 1,769 | 13 | 6.7 | $1.5M | 170 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 69 | #294 of 1,889 | 13 | 6.7 | $5.8M | 140 | 8 |
| Pizza | 68 | #375 of 2,090 | 16 | 8.2 | $4.7M | 93 | 22 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 68 | #418 of 2,394 | 105 | 53.7 | $262K | 172 | 38 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 65 | #417 of 1,886 | 19 | 9.7 | $1.4M | 147 | 13 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 65 | #465 of 2,385 | 62 | 31.7 | $312K | 147 | 14 |
| Auto repair and car care | 64 | #569 of 2,401 | 74 | 37.9 | $327K | 122 | 34 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 60 | #428 of 1,327 | 6 | 3.1 | $4M | 131 | 9 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 60 | #493 of 1,707 | 10 | 5.1 | $5.3M | 112 | 16 |
| Gas stations | 60 | #744 of 2,358 | 24 | 12.3 | $2.6M | 107 | 28 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 60 | #767 of 2,405 | 183 | 93.6 | $413K | 111 | 75 |
| Insurance agencies | 59 | #799 of 2,272 | 19 | 9.7 | $2M | 156 | 16 |
| Auto repair shops | 58 | #800 of 2,378 | 45 | 23.0 | $538K | 121 | 31 |
| Child care and preschools | 57 | #641 of 1,611 | 10 | 5.1 | $769K | 77 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 56 | #788 of 2,063 | 21 | 10.7 | $3.6M | 97 | 8 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 55 | #551 of 1,302 | 8 | 4.1 | $3.4M | 110 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 55 | #935 of 2,405 | 85 | 43.5 | $889K | 134 | 44 |
| Hair salons | 53 | #1,011 of 2,339 | 41 | 21.0 | $471K | 110 | 13 |
| Roofing and gutters | 50 | #600 of 1,177 | 7 | 3.6 | $7.6M | 90 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 50 | #749 of 1,461 | 11 | 5.6 | $1.5M | 59 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | 50 | #1,032 of 2,057 | 23 | 11.8 | $2.3M | 95 | 34 |
| Gyms | 48 | #999 of 1,792 | 17 | 8.7 | $1M | 77 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 47 | #785 of 1,472 | 6 | 3.1 | $490K | 72 | 5 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 45 | #1,419 of 2,402 | 67 | 34.3 | $1.8M | 52 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 44 | #1,080 of 1,771 | 13 | 6.7 | $1.8M | 110 | 44 |
| Electricians | 43 | #750 of 1,160 | 6 | 3.1 | $8.9M | 74 | 14 |
| Real estate | 41 | #1,569 of 2,229 | 55 | 28.1 | Index only | 115 | 25 |
| Pet stores | 40 | #651 of 974 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.3M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 40 | #1,019 of 1,490 | 16 | 8.2 | $1.7M | 72 | 10 |
| Pet businesses | 40 | #1,548 of 2,200 | 39 | 20.0 | $420K | 48 | 9 |
| Grocery stores | 39 | #1,403 of 2,070 | 19 | 9.7 | $6.2M | 67 | 11 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 38 | #1,062 of 1,493 | 10 | 5.1 | $2.4M | 82 | 29 |
| Convenience stores | 38 | #1,569 of 2,261 | 35 | 17.9 | $3.4M | 43 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 37 | #1,751 of 2,176 | 50 | 25.6 | Index only | 100 | 18 |
| Veterinarians | 35 | #1,106 of 1,485 | 13 | 6.7 | $1.3M | 46 | 6 |
| Laundromats | 34 | #569 of 785 | 5 | 2.6 | $7.6M | 61 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $8.1M | 321 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $8M | 125 | 15 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | Index only | 234 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $8.1M | 323 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $9.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $19M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $24.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $17M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | 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 | $24.2M | $1,240 | 129 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $61.5M | $3,147 | 121 |
| Food away from home | $75.6M | $3,866 | 95 |
| Groceries | $118.2M | $6,049 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $19.3M | $989 | 98 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.7M | $394 | 68 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $17M | $870 | 88 |
| Medical and dental services | $27.5M | $1,409 | 109 |
| Pets | $16.4M | $838 | 92 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $38.1M | $1,949 | 95 |
| Vehicle insurance | $37.3M | $1,910 | 98 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $53.1M | $2,718 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $24M | $1,226 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $273.8M | $14,009 | 84 |
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
- 45,803+1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 19,542
- Median age
- 46.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 914 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 50
- Median household income
- $77,219+28.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $94,913
- Median home value
- $271,900
- Jobs located here
- 16,552
- Daytime population
- 37,385Residents 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 Wisconsin 8
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- Burnett County, WI16,916 people
- Barron County, WI46,797 people
- Pierce County, WI42,584 people
- Washburn County, WI16,854 people
- Dunn County, WI45,527 people
- Pepin County, WI7,431 people
- Chippewa County, WI66,799 people
Questions
How fast is Polk County, WI growing?
Population estimates put Polk County at 45,803 people in 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 19,542 households. Median household income rose 28.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Polk County, WI spend?
Households in Polk County spend about $273.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $118.2M on groceries and $75.6M 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 129, 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, WI?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Polk County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (86), fast food and sandwich shops (80) and physical therapy clinics (77). Polk County ranks #27 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
How does Polk County, WI compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Polk County is $77,219 a year, 4% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $271,900, 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 convenience stores (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (43% 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. 44 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.