About this list
Looking for a Polk County, IA distressed property list? ListCentral.US provides weekly-updated distressed property data for Polk County, Iowa, for investors, wholesalers, real estate agents, contractors, and handyman crews. With an estimated 516,546 residents (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025), Polk County ranks #145 among U.S. counties by population. The county sits inside the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area (758,539 residents).
Pricing: 25 free records for Polk County (one-time), or 250 records for $24. Choose the 250 Records option and check out, then email info@listcentral.us with “Polk County, IA” (or put it in the order note) and you'll receive your data within 24 hours.
What's Included in Each Distressed Property Record
- Owner name
- Property address
- Mailing address
- Property characteristics — bedrooms, bathrooms, and other property details
- Distress type — such as tax delinquent, foreclosure, or vacant
Polk County Housing Market Snapshot
Population is from the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates; housing and income figures are American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates for 2020–2024.
| Estimated population (2025) | 516,546 |
|---|---|
| Population change since 2020 | +4.9% |
| Housing units | 218,486 |
| Vacant housing units | 13,128 (6.0%) |
| Owner-occupied households | 138,309 (67.4%) |
| Renter-occupied households | 67,049 (32.6%) |
| Median home value | $262,100 |
| Median gross rent | $1,149/month |
| Median household income | $83,576 |
| Median year homes were built | 1982 |
| Median age of residents | 36.2 |
What the Numbers Mean for Polk County Distressed Property Buyers
- Vacancy. About 6.0% of Polk County's housing units (13,128 homes) were vacant in the 2020–2024 ACS, below the U.S. figure of 10.1%. That count includes homes for rent, for sale, and seasonal homes, so it is a market-wide signal rather than a count of distressed homes; our county list is what identifies the distressed ones.
- Housing age. The median home in Polk County was built in 1982, close to the U.S. median (1980), so distressed homes here span a typical mix of repair needs.
- Prices. The median home value of $262,100 is 21% below the U.S. median of $332,700, and equals 3.1 times the county's median household income of $83,576. That puts deal spreads in a mid-range for wholesalers and flippers.
- Tenure. 67.4% of occupied homes in Polk County are owner-occupied versus 32.6% renter-occupied, close to the national split. Expect a mix of owner-occupant and landlord-owned distress.
- Growth. Polk County grew 4.9% between 2020 and 2025. Growing counties keep buyer demand and rehab resale values supported, which helps investors exit deals.
How Investors and Contractors Use Polk County Distressed Property Data
Wholesalers and investors use the list to contact owners of distressed homes in Polk County before they reach the MLS. With about 138,309 owner-occupied and 67,049 renter-occupied households in the county, each weekly refresh surfaces new distress signals across a large pool of properties. Contractors and handyman crews use the same records, including property characteristics such as bedrooms and bathrooms, to find repair and renovation work early.
Nearby and Similar Counties
- Morris County, NJ distressed property list
- Knox County, TN distressed property list
- Kane County, IL distressed property list
- Washoe County, NV distressed property list
- Passaic County, NJ distressed property list
- Lake County, IN distressed property list
Browse all counties in the Distressed Properties collection, or read the Motivated Seller Lists guide.
Polk County Distressed Property List FAQ
How much does a Polk County distressed property list cost? 25 records are free (one-time), and 250 records cost $24.
How do I order Polk County data? Select the 250 Records option and check out, then email info@listcentral.us with “Polk County, IA”. You'll receive your data within 24 hours. For the free 25 records, just email us.
What does each record include? Owner name, property address, mailing address, property characteristics such as bedrooms and bathrooms, and the distress type (for example tax delinquent, foreclosure, or vacant).
How big is the Polk County housing market? The 2020–2024 ACS counts 218,486 housing units in Polk County, of which 205,358 are occupied.
How often is the data updated? Weekly.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates (Vintage 2025) and American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024). Distressed property records are supplied by ListCentral.US.