The Town FilesPolk, Pennsylvania
Borough in Venango County · population 634 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,400
- Household income
- $36,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 53.4
Polk is a borough of 634 people in Venango County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $101,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Polk ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Polk is worth $101,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $36,786, which is more affordable than 53% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $685 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Polk | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $685 | $996 |
| Median household income | $36,786 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in Polk
| People | Polk | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Polk
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polk since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 7.5 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 43 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 22, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Venango County since 1996
Venango County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Venango County
Venango County had 16,232 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,299 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Polk itself the ACS puts it at 13.6%.
Towns near Polk
- Frenchcreek, PA2.1 mi · 1,427 people · home $154,100
- Sandycreek, PA5.0 mi · 2,055 people · home $177,800
- Franklin, PA5.1 mi · 6,077 people · home $116,900
- Mill Creek, PA6.4 mi · 778 people · home $239,800
- Sandy Lake, PA7.1 mi · 1,202 people · home $169,400
- Sugarcreek, PA7.2 mi · 4,775 people · home $108,200
- Canal, PA7.5 mi · 937 people · home $134,000
- Sandy Lake, PA8.1 mi · 649 people · home $177,300
Polk questions
Is Polk, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Polk scores better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 95%. 28.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.4).
How much does a house cost in Polk?
The median owner-occupied home in Polk is valued at $101,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,786, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $685 a month.
What is the weather like in Polk?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 53.7 inches of snow.
Does Polk get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)