Ackerville, 2023
Polk’s story
178 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2023 and 4 maps from 1904 on.
- 1848Polk is settled
Population
4,041
2025 Census estimate · +1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$583K
+5.7% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
50.9
years
Jobs based here
1,899
Balanced
TownGrade
A
#70 of 357 in WI
Is Polk a good place to live?
Polk grades A overall, 70th of 357 graded towns in Wisconsin, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Its schools outperform 94% of the state's and the median household earns $99K. It also does better than most on health: CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 82% of the country. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: homes are expensive, about $583K for a typical one and 7.5 times the Milwaukee metro’s $78K median household income. Polk’s average trip to work is 31 minutes, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 22 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 83% of U.S. towns. Polk Kames, at 449 acres with 2.9 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Polk stand out
Where Polk beats most towns.
How Polk grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Polk is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 10% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.9 of 20; 2.5% of households have no car; 0.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →HealthSt. Josephs Community Hospital West Bend 0.7 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4 miles of trails; 3% conserved landB−Open →HistoryBOpen →Civic life0 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades 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.
PowerWe Energies20.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSlinger Water Utility1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers91% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown of Polk Recycling CenterHire your ownTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown of Polk ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes53086, 53095, 53076, 5303753086 52% · 53095 19% · 53076 16% · 53037 11%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Polk.
Polk trades workers with Milwaukee and other neighbors and has a shorter frost-free season than most of the country, though not than most of Wisconsin; it also has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Wisconsin.
HousingCost of living grade C
For cost of living, Polk earns a C
At 7.5 years of the Milwaukee metro’s $78K median household income, the typical home (about $583K) costs more against local pay than in 97% of Wisconsin towns; that ratio is one input to its C for cost of living. At about $583K, home values are up 9% in five years, against a rise of 31% across Wisconsin.
88% of households own their home in Polk. Typical home values rose 5.7% in the year to September 2026. Polk’s median rent is $1,289 a month.
$583KZillow home value
| Polk | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 88% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,289 a month | $1,076 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Polk$583K
Wisconsin$337K
+5.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Polk faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 90% of U.S. communities.
10risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA−
For health, Polk earns an A−
Its widest gap with Wisconsin is tooth loss: 6% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 9.9% statewide.
21% of Polk adults binge drink. Polk beats the Wisconsin average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 29% of Polk adults feel lonely.
82%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Polk | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 26% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
13 better19 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Polk | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.2% | 12.1% |
St. Josephs Community Hospital West Bend
0.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
79th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Who lives here
Older than Wisconsin overall
People 65 and older are 28% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (22% statewide). The median age in Polk is 50.9 years. 37% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
50.9median age · WI 40.2
| Polk | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.9 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 32% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 21% | 22% |
PolkWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school31%
Some college17%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.7 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Polk | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.3% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.9% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.3% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.7% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.2% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.2% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.5% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 19.3% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.6% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.9% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.6% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.9% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.9% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.7% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,000, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Polk
The Germantown weather station, 9 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 154 days: shorter than most of the country, but longer than 76% of Wisconsin places with climate records. January nights average 10.9°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 81% of Wisconsin places with climate records; July afternoons average 81°.
Polk has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. About 54 inches of snow falls in a winter.
54″snow a winter
| Polk | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 81°F | 82°F | 85°F |
| January low | 11°F | 11°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–30°
Spring34–55°
Summer57–79°
Fall39–58°
Oct 12
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most working residents commute out of Polk
Polk has about as many jobs (1,899) as working residents, but only 60 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 31 minutes, against 22.2 across Wisconsin.
Most working residents leave Polk for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Polk grew to 1,899 in 2023, 314 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Milwaukee (12%), West Bend (8%) and Menomonee Falls (6%).
3%work in town
| Polk | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.9% | 8.4% | 8% |
| Median household income | $99,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Polk3%
Milwaukee12%
West Bend8%
Menomonee Falls6%
Slinger5%
17 mi
median commute distance
1,899
jobs based in Polk
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 17% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsB−
Polk has set aside 3.1% of its land for conservation
3.7 miles of trail in 6 parks and preserves.
#249for trails in WI
| Polk | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.1% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
3.1%
conserved · 615 of 19,787 acres
3.7 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Polk Kames | 2.9 mi | 449 |
| 2. Heritage Trails County Park | — | 253 |
| 3. Ackerman's Grove County Park | — | 65 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 43 attractions →Fiserv Forum and 30 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Polk. Close and well known come first.
26 mi Stadium & arenaFiserv Forum
27 mi MuseumMilwaukee Art Museum350K visitors a year
26 mi Stadium & arenaUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
10 mi Park & preserveKettle Moraine State Forest
26 mi MuseumNature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin
27 mi MuseumHarley-Davidson Museum300K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Fiserv Forum: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Milwaukee Art Museum: Michael Hicks (Mulad), CC BY 2.0 · UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena: Shadowlink1014, Public domain · Kettle Moraine State Forest: self, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin: The original uploader was Sulfur at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Harley-Davidson Museum: Dori, CC BY-SA 3.0 us
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Polk
18pages on Polk
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Polk; the nearest are
Concordia University-WisconsinUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Mequon16.3 mi$35,470 tuitionWaukesha County Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Pewaukee19.4 mi$4,872 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUniversity or college · Public · Milwaukee25.2 mi$10,398 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Polk residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Wisconsin.
About Polk
Town in Washington County, Wisconsin
Polk is a town in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,988 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Ackerville, Cedar Creek, Cedar Lake, Diefenbach Corners, Mayfield, and Rugby Junction are located in the town. The town derives its name from James K. Polk, 11th U.S. president, who was in office when the town incorporated in 1846.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 32 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,122 ft
- Area code
- 262
Polk’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Polk.
SlingerJacksonRichfieldWest BendHartfordJacksonPolk
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk | #70 | A | C | — | A | A− |
| Slinger | #48 | A | C+ | B+ | A | A− |
| Jackson | #32 | A | C | A+ | A− | A− |
| Richfield | #93 | A− | C− | — | A− | A |
| West Bend | #160 | B+ | C− | — | A | A− |
| Hartford | #14 | A+ | B+ | — | A | B+ |
| Jackson | #84 | A | C | — | A− | A− |
Polk, Richfield, West Bend, Hartford and Jackson report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Polk with a neighbor →
Questions about Polk
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Polk, WI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Polk grades A overall, better than 87% of U.S. towns and #70 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades A− for health and A for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Polk, WI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.