The Town Files

Polk County, Nebraska

5,225 people. The median home is worth $189,900 (typical Nebraska town: $154,800) and the median household earns $69,768.

Towns in Polk County

Towns in Polk County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Stromsburg1,143$159,900$58,98842.8
Osceola875$148,400$81,25041.4
Shelby710$120,500$72,95541.5

People and housing

Polk CountyTypical Nebraska town
Median home value$189,900$154,800
Median rent$681$818
Median household income$69,768$66,320
Median age43.439.5
Bachelor's degree or higher20.0%22.4%
Below the poverty line7.9%9.9%

Jobs and pay

1,438 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,530 a year.

Largest industries in Polk CountyHealth care & social assistan…173 jobs · $42,142Retail157 jobs · $37,066Wholesale trade98 jobs · $78,577Transportation & warehousing56 jobs · $58,834Construction52 jobs · $50,411Finance & insurance41 jobs · $68,249
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Polk County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 1.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 449 storm events in Polk County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Polk County by type since 1996Hail107Flood7Drought43Tornado14Blizzard12High Wind31Ice Storm7Heavy Rain30Flash Flood12Winter Storm50
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Polk County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 21, 2025Winter StormDR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds
August 20, 2024Severe StormDR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 27, 2022Severe StormDR-4662: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds
February 23, 2022Severe StormDR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
April 4, 2020BiologicalDR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3483: Covid-19
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).