Cost of Living in Polk County, Oregon
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Polk County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Polk County ranks #2,816 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 10%)
Sourced county brief
Polk County Median Home Value Estimated at $454,700
In Polk County, the median home value is $454,700, which is above the Oregon unweighted county mean of $386,692. The official GRAPI (median gross rent as a percentage of household income) is 30.7%. This figure is 1.3 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 29.4%. Median gross rent in the county is $1,299 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,191. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,582, while the state unweighted county mean is $1,215. Renter-household median income was estimated at $53,221. All figures are derived from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates and represent a statistical snapshot of the county's housing costs during that period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Polk County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.7% of renter household income in Polk County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,299 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,582. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $51,960 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Oregon unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,191 per month. Polk County's $1,299 median is 9.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Polk County
Rent Burden
18.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,986
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.3%
of gross income
The median home in Polk County may be a stretch
Median home value is $454,700. Estimated monthly cost: $3,630 vs. your max of $1,986.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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