This page delivers traffic analytics for Polk County, Iowa. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Polk County, Iowa among 1,355 road miles divided in 31,122 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 230 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
7,616
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.1%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
32.6 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
21.2%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$101,521
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 7,616 vehicles per day in Polk County, Iowa that results in 12,248,010 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈4.5 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 14 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 32.6 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Iowa state averages: Polk sees 150% higher average daily traffic volume than the state average (7,616 vehicles per day against 3,042), suggesting more demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Network-wide, Polk accounts for about 15% of Iowa's statewide total, at 12,248,010 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈4.5 billion per year). At 32.6 minutes, the average travel time is 1% lower than the state level. The congestion ratio of 21.2% is 85% higher, pointing to more pronounced congestion than the state level - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. Polk stands out as having the highest traffic volume in Iowa - 7,616 vehicles per day. 37% of counties in Iowa have a shorter average travel time than Polk's 32.6 minutes.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
22,652
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
11.0%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
35.4 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
40.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.5 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$100,997
A significant volume of traffic in Polk County, Iowa utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 22,652 vehicles per day, 216% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 7,178 vehicles per day. That average covers 230 highway road miles divided in 881 segments (average segment length 1,381 ft), together carrying 5,178,186 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.9 billion per year). By highway travel volume, Polk ranks first in Iowa. Trucks constitute 11.0% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (11.0%) is 32% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates Polk serves as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. Polk's highway truck share (11.0%) is higher than 12% of counties in Iowa. By raw truck volume, Polk carries more highway trucks than 91% of counties in Iowa.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
7,178
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
4.3%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
32.6 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
20.6%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
42.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$101,877
The non-highway road network in Polk County, Iowa supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 7,178 vehicles per day, 68% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 22,652 vehicles per day. That average covers 1,124 non-highway road miles divided in 30,241 segments (average segment length 196 ft), together carrying 7,069,824 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈2.6 billion per year). Trucks constitute 4.3% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Compared to highways, non-highway routes see 61% fewer trucks by share. At 85% higher than the state level, the non-highway congestion ratio of 20.6% signals more friction on local roads. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 37% of counties in Iowa. 99% of counties in Iowa see lower average driver income among trip origins than Polk. 2% of counties in Iowa have a younger driver population than Polk.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 72% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 16% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +9% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -17% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Polk County, Iowa, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +9% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Polk
Iowa
Average
Difference
Traffic
7,616
3,042
+150.4%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
7.1%
11.0%
-35.1%
Truck % (Highway)
11.0%
16.1%
-31.7%
Avg. Travel Time
32.6 min
33.0 min
-1.1%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 7,616 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - Polk has the highest average traffic volume of any county in Iowa, at 7,616 vehicles per day.
Traffic volumes are typically 9% higher during June–August. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 6,329 vehicles per day - a 17% decrease from the annual average.
Weekday peaks occur between 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the evening - about 72% above the daily average.
Drivers on Polk roads have a median age of 43 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $101,521 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
The average travel time for drivers is 32.6 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Approximately 29% of highway traffic and 7% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Polk County, Iowa. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
