In Polk County, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Polk County, 18.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 69% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 51% of U.S. counties.
What drives Polk County's score
In Polk County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 65.8. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 28.8. About one in seven renters (13.9%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 73% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Polk County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Polk County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (14.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 65.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.2% · 202466th percentile
- Children below the poverty line18.1% · 202455th percentile
- People with a disability16.3% · 2020 to 202452nd percentile
- People without health insurance14.1% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$60,993 · 202467th percentile
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- 56.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202642nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.2% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
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- 50.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.9% · August 202567th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people94.6 · 202533rd percentile
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- 43.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.5% · August 202533rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.6% · August 202541st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score41.7% · second quarter of 202655th percentile
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- 28.8 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent13.9% · 2020 to 202426th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.9% · fiscal year 202731st percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Polk County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Polk County, 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Polk County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Polk County made its largest gain on the way to its 2009 high, from 25.7% in 2004 to 31.4% in 2009.
In Polk County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 29.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Polk County, Missouri, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 29.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Polk County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 16.0% in 2011 to 19.0% in 2012.
The share of households in Polk County getting SNAP food aid fell to 10.8%, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 19.3% in 2013. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Polk County, Missouri.
How Polk County has changed
Polk County's population doubled to 33,070, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1989 to 1994, reaching 24,230. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Polk County, Missouri.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Polk County nearly doubled to 9,202, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 7,197. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Polk County, Missouri.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.7% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.3% | 2024 15.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $19,001 | 2024 $60,993 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Polk County's history
1835
Polk County was separated from Greene County on January 5, 1835, from mostly Upper South settlers including those descended from Ezekiel Polk who had settled Greene County. Wikipedia
2007
A flash flood in August 2007 did $9 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
A thunderstorm in May 2009 did $7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A flash flood in December 2015 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 31,519, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2024
Hail in April 2024 did $9.55 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Polk County, 17 of them for flooding. FEMA
Polk County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Polk County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Polk County ranks 6th of the seven; Hickory County is highest, at 46.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory County, MO | 89 | 16.0% | 46.9% |
| Dallas County, MO | 73 | 17.0% | 33.3% |
| Cedar County, MO | 62 | 16.5% | 41.3% |
| St. Clair County, MO | 54 | 16.0% | 40.0% |
| Polk County, MO | 48 | 15.2% | 29.9% |
| Greene County, MO | 46 | 10.5% | 22.1% |
| Dade County, MO | 43 | 13.5% | 32.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Polk County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Polk County's poverty rate was 15.2% in 2024, 37th highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Polk County ranks 60th of 115 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Polk County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Services of Southern Missouri
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Polk County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.