Polk County, OR

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Population

79,666

1.52% growth

Median Age

37.3


Median Household Income

$56,032

3.74% growth

Poverty Rate

15.4%


Number of Employees

34,825

3.51% growth

Median Property Value

$224,700

4.51% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Polk County, OR had a population of 79.7k people with a median age of 37.3 and a median household income of $56,032. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Polk County, OR grew from 78,470 to 79,666, a 1.52% increase and its median household income grew from $54,010 to $56,032, a 3.74% increase.

The population of Polk County, OR is 78.9% White Alone, 13.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 3.12% Two or More Races. 13.3% of the people in Polk County, OR speak a non-English language, and 94.9% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Polk County, OR are Western Oregon University (1,529 degrees awarded in 2016).

The median property value in Polk County, OR is $224,700, and the homeownership rate is 64.6%. Most people in Polk County, OR commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 22.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Polk County, OR is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Oregon State Capitol, Salem, OR

Photo by Max Rae

United StatesOregonSalem, OR

Economy

The economy of Polk County, OR employs 34.8k people. The largest industries in Polk County, OR are Health Care & Social Assistance (5,498 people), Educational Services (4,038 people), and Public Administration (3,577 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($64,271), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($61,420), and Public Administration ($56,633).

Median household income in Polk County, OR is $56,032. Males in Polk County, OR have an average income that is 1.29 times higher than the average income of females, which is $48,053. The income inequality in Polk County, OR (measured using the Gini index) is 0.469, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$56,032

2017 value

± $2,412

3.74%

1 Year Growth

± 5.01%

Households in Polk County, OR have a median annual income of $56,032, which is less than the median annual income of $60,336 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $54,010 in 2016, which represents a 3.74% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Polk County, OR compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

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

$61,970

Average Male Salary

± $1,681

$48,053

Average Female Salary

± $1,355

In 2017, full-time male employees in Polk County, OR made 1.29 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Polk County, OR by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

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

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $56,926 ± $5,268

  2. White

    $47,707 ± $1,033

  3. Alaska Native

    $40,267 ± $28,756

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Polk County, OR workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.19 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Polk County, OR by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

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

0.469

2017 Wage GINI

0.471

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in Oregon was 0.469 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.411% decline from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even.

The 2017 the GINI for Oregon was lower than than the national average of 0.479. 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.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 53

  2. Census Tract 52.01

  3. Census Tract 205

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Polk County, OR was Census Tract 53 with a value of $70,585, followed by Census Tract 52.01 and Census Tract 205, with respective values of $69,032 and $65,352.

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

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

15.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Polk County, OR (11.9k out of 77.8k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

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.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    10,057 ± 739

  2. Hispanic

    2,103 ± 345

  3. Two Or More

    769 ± 183

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.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

34.8k

2017 Value

± 1,422

3.51%

1 Year growth

± 5.65%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Polk County, OR grew at a rate of 3.51%, from 33.6k employees to 34.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Polk County, OR, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (5,072 people), Management Occupations (3,268 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (3,179 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Polk County, OR.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Polk County, OR, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (5,072 people), Management Occupations (3,268 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (3,179 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, OR has an unusually high number of residents working as Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (5.11 times higher than expected), Personal Care & Service Occupations (1.66 times), and Community & Social Service Occupations (1.65 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Polk County, OR, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($75,234), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($74,773), and Legal Occupations ($66,923).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

34.8k

2017 Value

± 1,422

3.51%

1 Year growth

± 5.65%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Polk County, OR grew at a rate of 3.51%, from 33.6k employees to 34.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Polk County, OR, are Health Care & Social Assistance (5,498 people), Educational Services (4,038 people), and Public Administration (3,577 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.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Polk County, OR, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (5,498 people), Educational Services (4,038 people), and Public Administration (3,577 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Polk County, OR has an unusually high number of Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (4.74 times higher than expected), Public Administration (2.2 times), and Management of Companies & Enterprises (1.51 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Polk County, OR, by median earnings, are Utilities ($64,271), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($61,420), and Public Administration ($56,633).

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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

  1. Mixed freight

    $18.5B

  2. Electronics

    $13.1B

  3. Motorized vehicles

    $12.8B

In 2015, the top outbound Oregon product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $18.5B, followed by Electronics with $13.1B and Motorized vehicles and $12.8B.

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

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Oregon state.

$134B

2015 Value

$201B

Projected 2045 Value

49.9% growth

In 2015, total outbound Oregon trade was $134B. This is expected to increase 49.9% to $201B by 2045.

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

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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

  1. Washington

    $26.5B

  2. California

    $17.6B

  3. Minnesota

    $2.94B

In 2015, the top outbound Oregon domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Washington with $26.5B, followed by California with $17.6B and Minnesota and $2.94B.

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

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Health

91.8% of the population of Polk County, OR has health coverage, with 47.7% on employee plans, 16.3% on Medicaid, 12.9% on Medicare, 14% on non-group plans, and 0.986% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Polk County, OR 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 1654 patients per year on average, which represents a 6.61% decrease from the previous year (1771 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2557 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 395 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Crook County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (14.2%). Additionally, Linn County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (35.6%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1654 to 1

Primary Care Physicians

Primary care physicians in Polk County, OR see an average of 1654 patients per year. This represents a 6.61% decrease from the previous year (1771 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 neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

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

$8,044

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,232

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$7,185

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,942

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Oregon (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 7.73%, from $7,467 to $8,044.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

8.16%

Uninsured

47.7%

Employer Coverage

16.3%

Medicaid

12.9%

Medicare

14%

Non-Group

0.986%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Polk County, OR declined by 4.55% from 8.55% to 8.16%.

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.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Crook County

    14.2% prevalence

  2. Wheeler County

    13.3% prevalence

  3. Lincoln County

    13.3% prevalence

Crook County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Oregon, at 14.2%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Oregon by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Polk County, OR is home to a population of 79.7k people, from which 94.9% are citizens. As of 2017, 8.23% of Polk County, OR residents were born outside of the country.

The ethnic composition of the population of Polk County, OR is composed of 62.8k White Alone residents (78.9%), 10.7k Hispanic or Latino residents (13.4%), 2.49k Two or More Races residents (3.12%), 1.55k Asian Alone residents (1.94%), 995 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (1.25%), 775 Black or African American Alone residents (0.973%), 317 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.398%), and 36 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.0452%).

The most common foreign languages spoken in Polk County, OR are Spanish or Spanish Creole (7,298 speakers), Chinese (526 speakers), and German (334 speakers).

Age

Age by Nativity

37

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

40

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 2.4

In 2017, the median age of all people in Polk County, OR was 37.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 37, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 40. But people in Polk County, OR are getting staying the same age. In 2016, the average age of all Polk County, OR residents was 37.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

8.23%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

8.19%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

As of 2017, 8.23% of Polk County, OR residents were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Polk County, OR was 8.19%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

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Global Diversity

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    146,430 ± 9,222 people

  2. Vietnam

    21,288 ± 3,573 people

  3. China

    20,489 ± 3,505 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Polk County, OR was Mexico, the natal country of 146,430 Polk County, OR residents, followed by Vietnam with 21,288 and China with 20,489.

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Citizenship

94.9%

2017 Citizenship

95.2%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 94.9% of Polk County, OR residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.1%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Polk County, OR was 95.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    62.8k ± 30

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    10.7k ± 1.04k

  3. Two or More Races

    2.49k ± 290

In 2017, there were 5.89 times more White Alone residents (62.8k people) in Polk County, OR than any other race or ethnicity. There were 10.7k Hispanic or Latino and 2.49k Two or More Races residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Polk County, OR as a share of the total population.

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Non-English Speakers

Most Common Languages

  1. Spanish or Spanish Creole

    7,298 speakers (10%)

  2. Chinese

    526 speakers (0.723%)

  3. German

    334 speakers (0.459%)

13.3% of Polk County, OR citizens are speakers of a non-English language, which is lower than the national average of 21.5%. In 2015, the most common non-English language spoken in Polk County, OR was Spanish or Spanish Creole. 10% of the overall population of Polk County, OR are native Spanish or Spanish Creole speakers. 0.723% speak Chinese and 0.459% speak Spanish or Spanish Creole, the next two most common languages.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    2,073 ± 264

  2. Korea

    803 ± 159

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    764 ± 191

Polk County, OR has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.58 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2016, universities in Polk County, OR awarded 1,529 degrees. The student population of Polk County, OR is skewed towards women, with 2,018 male students and 3,364 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Polk County, OR are White (1,105 and 79.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (108 and 7.79%), Unknown (57 and 4.11%), and Asian (41 and 2.96%).

The largest universities in Polk County, OR by number of degrees awarded are Western Oregon University (1,529 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Polk County, OR are Teacher Education (215 and 14.1%), General Business (140 and 9.16%), and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (106 and 6.93%).

The median tuition costs in Polk County, OR are $N/A for private four year colleges, and $7,575 and $21,735 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. General Business

    140 degrees awarded

  2. Other Multidisciplinary Studies

    106 degrees awarded

  3. General Psychology

    86 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Polk County, OR was General Business with 140 degrees awarded.

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

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Universities

Western Oregon University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

1,529 degrees awarded

$7,575

Median In-State Public

$N/A

Median Private

In 2016, the Polk County, OR institution with the largest number of graduating students was Western Oregon University with 1,529 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

545

Degrees Awarded to Men

984

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2016, 545 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Polk County, OR, which is 0.554 times less than the 984 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Polk County, OR by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    1,105 degrees awarded

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    108 degrees awarded

  3. Unknown

    57 degrees awarded

In 2016 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Polk County, OR were to White students. These 1,105 degrees mean that there were 10.2 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 108 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Polk County, OR was $224,700 in 2017, which is 1.03 times larger than the national average of $217,600. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $215,000 to $224,700, a 4.51% increase. The homeownership rate in Polk County, OR is 64.6%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Polk County, OR have an average commute time of 22.9 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Polk County, OR is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Income

Household Income

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

$56,032

Median Household Income

± $2,412

29.1k

Number of Households

± 1,176

In 2017, the median household income of the 29.1k households in Polk County, OR grew to $56,032 from the previous year's value of $54,010.

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.

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Housing

Property Value

$224,700

2017 Median

± $4,380

$215,000

2016 Median

± $5,487

In 2017, the median property value in Polk County, OR grew to to $224,700 from the previous year's value of $215,000.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Polk County, OR compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Polk County, OR the largest share of households have a property value in the $200k - $250k range.

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Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Polk County, OR 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.

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Rent vs Own

64.6%

2017 Homeownership

64.6%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 64.6% of the housing units in Polk County, OR were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 64.6%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Polk County, OR compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Transportation

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, followed by 3 cars.

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Commute Time

22.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Polk County, OR have a shorter commute time (22.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 2.38% 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.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    77.4%

  2. Carpooled

    10.5%

  3. Worked At Home

    6.7%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Polk County, OR was Drove Alone, followed by those who Carpooled and those who Worked At Home.

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