The Town Files

Polk County, Missouri

32,444 people. The median home is worth $205,800 (typical Missouri town: $153,900) and the median household earns $59,647.

Towns in Polk County

Towns in Polk County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Bolivar10,679$201,600$49,62234.1

People and housing

Polk CountyTypical Missouri town
Median home value$205,800$153,900
Median rent$814$855
Median household income$59,647$56,368
Median age38.138.6
Bachelor's degree or higher22.5%18.9%
Below the poverty line16.3%14.6%

Jobs and pay

9,503 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,113 a year.

Largest industries in Polk CountyHealth care & social assistan…1,442 jobs · $46,893Retail1,329 jobs · $30,159Manufacturing846 jobs · $47,073Hotels & restaurants716 jobs · $19,019Education462 jobs · $33,218Construction382 jobs · $49,644
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Polk County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 905 storm events in Polk County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Polk County by type since 1996Hail257Heat9Flood59Drought35Tornado29Ice Storm9Heavy Rain33Flash Flood163Winter Storm27Winter Weather16
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Polk County has been included in 25 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 3, 2026Severe StormDR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 9, 2020Severe StormDR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3482: Covid-19
January 21, 2016FloodDR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
January 2, 2016FloodEM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).