Cost of Living in Polk County, Wisconsin
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 #2,298 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 27%)
Sourced county brief
Polk County Median Home Value Reaches $271,900 in Recent Estimates
The median home value in Polk County is $271,900, which is higher than the Wisconsin unweighted county mean of $234,086. For renter-occupied units, the median gross rent is $957 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $916. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct, which measures median gross rent as a percentage of household income, is 23.8%. This official ACS B25071 estimate is 1.5 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 25.3%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,164, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,072. The median renter-household income for the county was estimated at $47,788. These figures represent a snapshot from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 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 23.8% of renter household income in Polk County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $957 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,164. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,280 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 Wisconsin unweighted mean of county median rents is $916 per month. Polk County's $957 median is 4.5% 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
14.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,802
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.1%
of gross income
The median home in Polk County may be a stretch
Median home value is $271,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,171 vs. your max of $1,802.
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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