The Town FilesPolk, Wisconsin
Town in Washington County · population 3,988 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $455,300
- Household income
- $98,676
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 50.9
Polk is a town of 3,988 people in Washington County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $455,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more upscale than 91% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Polk ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Polk is worth $455,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $98,676, which is more affordable than 5% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,289 a month. 87.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Polk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $455,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,289 | $951 |
| Median household income | $98,676 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 87.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.4% | — |
Who lives in Polk
| People | Polk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Polk
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.6°F. About 32.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polk since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1981 about 5.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 57 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Flood | DR-4892: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 58,417 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Polk itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Towns near Polk
- Jackson, WI3.2 mi · 7,185 people · home $321,500
- Slinger, WI3.4 mi · 5,992 people · home $367,000
- West Bend, WI4.9 mi · 31,752 people · home $263,100
- Jackson, WI4.9 mi · 4,629 people · home $417,700
- Trenton, WI6.8 mi · 4,525 people · home $366,000
- Hartford, WI7.6 mi · 3,400 people · home $366,100
- Richfield, WI7.8 mi · 11,739 people · home $503,400
- Barton, WI7.8 mi · 2,743 people · home $383,100
Polk questions
Is Polk, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Polk scores better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 31%. 27.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.9).
How much does a house cost in Polk?
The median owner-occupied home in Polk is valued at $455,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,676, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,289 a month.
What is the weather like in Polk?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.6 inches of precipitation a year and 54.3 inches of snow.
Does Polk get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 4, 1981. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)