Polk County, OR

County

Add Comparison

2020 Population

84,730

2.04% 1-year growth

US Senator

Ron Wyden

Democratic Party

US Senator

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Party

2020 Median Age

0% 1-year change

2020 Poverty Rate

12.1%

4.54% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$65,665

4.74% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$290,100

9.39% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

38,375

2.61% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Polk County, OR had a population of 84.7k people with a median age of 37 and a median household income of $65,665. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Polk County, OR grew from 83,037 to 84,730, a 2.04% increase and its median household income grew from $62,691 to $65,665, a 4.74% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, OR are White (Non-Hispanic) (77.5%), White (Hispanic) (8.93%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.77%), Other (Hispanic) (3.33%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (1.71%).

None of the households in Polk County, OR reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.2% of the residents in Polk County, OR are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Polk County, OR are Western Oregon University (1,715 degrees awarded in 2020).

In 2020, the median property value in Polk County, OR was $290,100, and the homeownership rate was 65.4%.

Most people in Polk County, OR drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 27 minutes. The average car ownership in Polk County, OR was 2 cars per household.

Polk County, OR borders Benton County, OR, Lincoln County, OR, Linn County, OR, Marion County, OR, Tillamook County, OR, and Yamhill County, OR.

Population & Diversity

Polk County, OR is home to a population of 84.7k people, from which 96.2% are citizens. As of 2020, 6.93% of Polk County, OR residents were born outside of the country (5.87k people).

In 2020, there were 8.68 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (65.7k people) in Polk County, OR than any other race or ethnicity. There were 7.57k White (Hispanic) and 3.2k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.2%

2020 Citizenship

95.3%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 96.2% of Polk County, OR residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Polk County, OR was 95.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Polk County, OR compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Polk County, OR

White (Non-Hispanic)
65.7k ± 30
White (Hispanic)
7.57k ± 775
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
3.2k ± 486

14.3%

Hispanic Population

12.1k people

14.3% of the people in Polk County, OR are hispanic (12.1k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Polk County, OR as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Oregon.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
141,609 ± 9,081 people
Vietnam
22,538 ± 3,676 people
China
22,455 ± 3,669 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Oregon was Mexico, the natal country of 141,609 Oregon residents, followed by Vietnam with 22,538 and China with 22,455.

Foreign-Born Population

6.93%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

5.87k people

7.77%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

6.45k people

As of 2020, 6.93% of Polk County, OR residents (5.87k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Polk County, OR was 7.77%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Polk County, OR compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,120 ± 292
Gulf War (2001-)
967 ± 255
Gulf War (1990s)
572 ± 169

Polk County, OR has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.19 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Polk County, OR employs 38.4k people. The largest industries in Polk County, OR are Health Care & Social Assistance (6,465 people), Educational Services (4,153 people), and Retail Trade (3,868 people), and the highest paying industries are Public Administration ($57,409), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($55,694), and Utilities ($55,486).

Males in Oregon have an average income that is 1.28 times higher than the average income of females, which is $54,561. The income inequality in Oregon (measured using the Gini index) is 0.464, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

38.4k

2020 Value

± 1,654

2.61%

1 Year growth

± 5.63%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Polk County, OR grew at a rate of 2.61%, from 37.4k employees to 38.4k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Polk County, OR, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (4,349 people), Management Occupations (3,716 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (3,502 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Polk County, OR.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Oregon (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

38.4k

2020 Value

± 1,654

2.61%

1 Year growth

± 5.63%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Polk County, OR grew at a rate of 2.61%, from 37.4k employees to 38.4k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Polk County, OR, are Health Care & Social Assistance (6,465 people), Educational Services (4,153 people), and Retail Trade (3,868 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Polk County, OR, though some of these residents may live in Polk County, OR and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$43,269

Median earning men ± $3,931

$28,913

Median earning women ± $1,933

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($65,592), Public Administration ($62,656), and Information ($60,967).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Construction ($55,765), Public Administration ($52,003), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($35,517).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Oregon. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Oregon.

View Full Dashboard

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

559
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
309
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services
297
Manufacturing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$253k
Manufacturing
$202k
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$59.2k
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Oregon to other states, or from other states to Oregon.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Oregon product (by dollars) was Electronics with $19B, followed by Mixed freight ($18.8B) and Wood prods. ($14.1B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Oregon products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Oregon.

$185B

2020 Value in Oregon

$358B

Projected 2050 Value in Oregon

93.6% growth

In 2020, total outbound Oregon trade was $185B. This is expected to increase 93.6% to $358B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Oregon trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Oregon to other states, or from other states to Oregon.

Most Common Trade Partners

Washington
$36.1B
California
$24.7B
Idaho
$3.73B

In 2020, the top outbound Oregon domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Washington with $36.1B, followed by California with $24.7B and Idaho and $3.73B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Oregon shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Polk County, OR went to Donald J. Trump with 49.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (47.5%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (2.03%).

Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are the senators currently representing the state of Oregon. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Oregon is currently represented by 5 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (49.1%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (47.5%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (2.03%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Polk County, OR went to Donald J. Trump with 49.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (47.5%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (2.03%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Polk County, OR for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senators Elections

US Senators from Oregon

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Ron Wyden

Senator from Oregon

Assumed office on February 5, 1996
Elected to the seat following the resignation of Bob Packwood.

Jeff Merkley

Senator from Oregon

Assumed office on January 3, 2009

Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are the senators currently representing Oregon.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Oregon over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives Elections

US Representatives from Oregon

Oregon is currently represented by 5 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Oregon have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Polk County, OR awarded 1,715 degrees. The student population of Polk County, OR in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 1,613 male students and 2,941 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Polk County, OR are White (1,183 and 72.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (219 and 13.5%), Asian (60 and 3.69%), and Unknown (47 and 2.89%).

The largest universities in Polk County, OR by number of degrees awarded are Western Oregon University (1,715 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Polk County, OR are Teacher Education (254 and 14.8%), Other Multidisciplinary Studies (154 and 8.98%), and General Business (150 and 8.75%).

The median tuition cost in Polk County, OR for a public four year colleges is $8,280 for in-state students and $27,090 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Polk County, OR, the percentage of applicants admitted was 79.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 25.6%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 4,554 (35.4% men and 64.6% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 4,554 students enrolled in Polk County, OR, 35.4% men and 64.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,794 records, of which 66.1% were women and 33.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Multidisciplinary Studies
154 degree-majors awarded
General Business
150 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
126 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Polk County, OR was Other Multidisciplinary Studies with 154 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Polk County, OR according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Western Oregon University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

1,715 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Western Oregon University with 1,715 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 632 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Polk County, OR, which is 0.584 times less than the 1,083 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,183 degrees mean that there were 5.4 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 219 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($8,280) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,914) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Measure

In 2020, 0.725% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.812% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were Some college (878k), High School or Equivalent (788k), and Bachelors Degree (661k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Polk County, OR was $290,100 in 2020, which is 1.26 times larger than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $265,200 to $290,100, a 9.39% increase. The homeownership rate in Polk County, OR is 65.4%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Polk County, OR have an average commute time of 27 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Polk County, OR is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Polk County, OR is $65,665. In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Polk County, OR was Census Tract 205 with a value of $81,724, followed by Census Tract 202.04 and Census Tract 202.02, with respective values of $81,616 and $59,153.

In 2021, 17.6% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Polk County, OR. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator declined 0.724%.

Housing

Property

$290,100

Median Property Value 2020

±$7,794

$20,097

Median Property Taxes

±$1,029

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Polk County, OR the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Polk County, OR compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

65.4%

Homeownership

2020

68%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 65.4% of the housing units in Polk County, OR were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 66.3%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Polk County, OR compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 205
Census Tract 202.04
Census Tract 202.02

In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Polk County, OR was Census Tract 205 with a value of $81,724, followed by Census Tract 202.04 and Census Tract 202.02, with respective values of $81,616 and $59,153.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Polk County, OR colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$65,665

Median Household Income

± $2,566

30.7k

Number of Households

± 1,357

In 2020, the median household income of the 30.7k households in Polk County, OR grew to $65,665 from the previous year's value of $62,691.

The following chart displays the households in Polk County, OR distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Polk County, OR is from Oregon.

0.464

2020 Wage GINI in Oregon

0.465

2019 Wage GINI in Oregon

In 2020, the income inequality in Oregon was 0.464 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.249% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Oregon was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Oregon in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Oregon across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (75.8%)
Worked At Home (9.97%)
Carpooled (9.92%)

In 2020, 75.8% of workers in Polk County, OR drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (9.97%) and those who carpooled to work (9.92%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

27 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Polk County, OR have a longer commute time (27 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 3.36% of the workforce in Polk County, OR have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Polk County, OR compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Polk County, OR distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Polk County, OR have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2021, 17.6% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Polk County, OR. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator declined 0.724%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Polk County, OR (9.97k out of 82.6k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Polk County, OR is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2021, 12.4% of the children was living in poverty in Polk County, OR. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator declined 7.8%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2021, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 230 in Polk County, OR. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator declined 17 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Error: TypeError: measure_.at is not a function

Health

94.4% of the population of Polk County, OR has health coverage, with 49.8% on employee plans, 17.4% on Medicaid, 13.1% on Medicare, 12.9% on non-group plans, and 1.21% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Oregon was $8,044 in 2014. This is a 7.73% increase from the previous year ($7,467).

Primary care physicians in Polk County, OR see 1813 patients per year on average, which represents a 3.96% increase from the previous year (1744 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2391 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 338 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.5% were men and 51.5% were women.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Oregon. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Oregon, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

View Full Dashboard

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,813 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Polk County, OR

Primary care physicians in Polk County, OR see an average of 1,813 patients per year. This represents a 3.96% increase from the previous year (1,744 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Polk County, OR in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Oregon across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

View Full Dashboard

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.6% under 18 years, 22.8% between 18 and 34 years, 35% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.5% were men and 51.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.58%

Uninsured

49.8%

Employer Coverage

17.4%

Medicaid

13.1%

Medicare

12.9%

Non-Group

1.21%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Polk County, OR grew by 5% from 5.31% to 5.58%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Polk County, OR changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2021, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 53.4 in Polk County, OR.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Polk County, OR.

Error: TypeError: measure_.at is not a function

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2021, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 34.7% in Polk County, OR.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Polk County, OR.

Error: TypeError: measure_.at is not a function