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32 ZIP codes •
Population: 509,513
Should you buy in Polk County, IA?
Our answer, based on the numbers below.
🏠For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)
Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.
📈For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5
(47/100)
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
⚠️Risks to Know
CLEAN
No major risk flags on the data we track.
What’s happening in Polk County, IA?
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Investability
County-wide average
Appreciation
4.5% 5yr CAGR
Landlord Climate
Regulatory friendliness
Avg Investability★★★★★
Avg Home Value$308,009
Avg Monthly Rent$1,238
ZIP Codes32
Market Trends — Polk County
County Home Value History
County Rent History
Investing in Polk County Real Estate
With 509,513 residents across 20 cities, Polk County shows lackluster fundamentals that keep most passive capital on the sidelines — a region that demands real local knowledge.
Polk is the kind of county where the cap rate on paper and the cap rate realized tend to diverge. unambiguously out-of-state capital should be especially careful with carry-in assumptions.
A 509,513 population and $N/AK household income profile is what makes Polk a challenging rental region — the base is present, but the affordability math is tight.
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Investor Insight: With 13,258 students living off-campus, Polk County has substantial rental demand from the college population — typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.
Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.
Are home values higher in, IA than the rest of IA?
Versus statewide IA, is broadly in line with. Its 3.0/5 investability score reflects that position.
Are tenants stable in, IA?
The renter base in, IA is reasonable for the $1,238/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.
Are eviction rules reasonable in, IA?
The landlord environment in, IA is tenant-protective. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.
How does, IA stack up for property investment?
, IA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $308K and rents near $1,238/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.
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