Main at Congress, 2016
Polk’s story
180 years in pictures
Census counts: 335 in 1880, a peak of 435 in 1970, 310 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1906 on.
- 1846Polk is settled
PolkOH
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
306
2025 Census estimate · −1% since 2020
Typical home
$275K
+3.7% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
32.1
years
Jobs based here
20
A commuter town
Is Polk a good place to live?
21% of residents live below the poverty line in Polk, above both the Ohio town median (9.1%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Polk has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Polk stand out
Where Polk beats most towns.
Small town
306 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Polk: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Polk, and how to reach them.
PowerOhio Edison16.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRural Lorain County Water AuthorityNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Polk’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Ohio you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDirector, Ashland County Board of ElectionsAshland County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code4486644866 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Polk.
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Polk
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 93% of U.S. communities.
7risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Polk stands out in Ohio and nationally, with fewer of its working residents who work locally
0.9% of working residents work locally in Polk, against 6.9% in Ohio’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Polk’s average trip to work is 29 minutes. The top destinations are Ashland (20%), Medina (6%) and Wooster (5%).
1%work in town
| Polk | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.9% | 6.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $75,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Polk1%
Ashland20%
Medina6%
Wooster5%
Jackson Township4%
21 mi
median commute distance
20
jobs based in Polk
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Polk
Polk has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Polk is 83°F.
49″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–36°
Spring38–59°
Summer59–81°
Fall42–62°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Polk is
Polk beats the Ohio average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 19% of adults smoke cigarettes in Polk.
| Polk | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 28% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 38% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Ohio
0 better30 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Polk | OH |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10% | 8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19% | 15.3% |
Lodi Community Hospital
11.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
The median rent in Polk is lower than in most of Ohio or the rest of the country
88% of Polk households own their home. The typical Polk home is worth about $275,000, up 3.7% in a year, 12% above the Ohio typical home.
$275KZillow home value
| Polk | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 88% | 77% | 73% |
| Median rent | $675 a month | $944 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Polk$275K
Ohio$246K
+3.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 76 attractions →Ohio State Reformatory and 18 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Polk. Close and well known come first.
19 mi MuseumOhio State Reformatory
35 mi National ParkCuyahoga Valley National Park3.0M visitors a year
23 mi State parkMalabar Farm State Park
38 mi TheatreBlossom Music Center
24 mi MuseumAllen Memorial Art Museum36 mi Zoo & aquariumAkron ZooSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Ohio State Reformatory: Niagara66, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Unknown, Public domain · Malabar Farm State Park: Jerward at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Blossom Music Center: Slh1078, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Allen Memorial Art Museum: Daderot, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Polk
16pages on Polk
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Polk
About 1 of every 100 Polk residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Ohio.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Polk for work
Where Polk’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
20jobs based in Polk
1%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Polk
Village in Ohio, United States
Polk is a village in Jackson Township, Ashland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 310 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1849
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,270 ft
- ZIP code
- 44866
Questions about Polk
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Polk, OH a good place to live?
Polk has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.