The typical owner-occupied home in Polk County is worth about $138,400, 26% below the Arkansas median of $188,000 and 58% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $565 a year in property taxes, about 0.41% of their home's value, lower than the Arkansas rate of 0.55%. The median household earns $49,191 a year, so the median home costs 2.8 times the median income (3.1 times for Arkansas). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 40% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Polk County at a glance
| Polk County | Arkansas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,400 | $188,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $565 | $1,040 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.41% | 0.55% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $49,191 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 79% | 66% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 40% | 53% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,164 | $1,345 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.4% | 18.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $711 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 23.1% | 27.6% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1986 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 18.1% | 13.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 19,361 | 3,049,391 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Polk County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Polk County home of $138,400 with 20% down costs about $850 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,080, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $36,419 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Polk County household income of $49,191; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $187,000.
The median rent here is $711 a month, so owning the median home costs about $139 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $27,680 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $110,720 |
| Principal and interest | $745 |
| Property taxes (0.41% a year) | $47 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $58 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $850 |
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| Down payment | $4,844 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $135,893 |
| Principal and interest | $914 |
| Property taxes (0.41% a year) | $47 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $58 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $61 |
| Total per month | $1,080 |
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Questions about home buying in Polk County
What is the median home value in Polk County?
About $138,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Polk County?
Homeowners pay a median $565 a year, which is about 0.41% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Polk County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $850 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $36,419 a year.
More about Polk County
- Mortgage Refinance in Polk County
- Debt Relief in Polk County
- Home Equity Loans in Polk County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data