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How has employment changed over time?
- LEHD LODES Workplace Area Characteristics (WAC) · 2012–2023 (latest year per state)
- LEHD LODES Residence Area Characteristics (RAC) · 2012–2023 (latest year per state)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · 2024
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics · 2024
Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.
Wage ranges for common occupations show how local pay compares across sectors. Bars show the 25th to 75th percentile annual salary range, with the median marked.
Who lives here today?
- ACS 5-year estimates · B19001, B19037, B19113, B19131 · 2020–2024
- HUD Income Limits · FY 2025
Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.
Cost burden measures the share of household income spent on housing. Households paying more than 30% are considered cost burdened, while those paying more than 50% are severely cost burdened. Lower-income households typically face the highest rates of cost burden.
What does the housing stock look like?
The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.
How much new housing supply is needed?
- ACS 5-year estimates · B25001, B25004, B25016, B25024, B25042, B25053 · 2020–2024
- HUD Income Limits · FY 2025
- Census PUMS 5-year · 2020–2024
To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Polk County Transportation Planning Organization needs 52,922 new units over the next 5 years.
| 41,446 |
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
|
| 13.5% |
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 305,887 in 2026 to 347,333 in 2031.
|
| 11,476 |
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
|
| 3,477 |
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.0 per 1,000 units.
|
| 113 |
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 1.5%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
|
| 7,771 |
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 5.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
|
| 115 |
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 3.4%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
|
| 52,922 |
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
|
| 10,584 |
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
|
| 15.5% |
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
|
| 3.1% |
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year
|