This page delivers traffic analytics for Polk County, Minnesota. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Polk County, Minnesota among 823 road miles divided in 4,503 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 965 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.
1,312
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.7%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
34.7 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.
5.3%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
41.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$76,388
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 1,312 vehicles per day in Polk County, Minnesota that results in 878,886 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈321 million per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 13 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 34.7 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Minnesota state averages: Polk sees 61% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (1,312 vehicles per day against 3,404), suggesting less demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. In total volume terms, its road network carries 878,886 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈321 million per year), about 0.6% of Minnesota's statewide total. At 34.7 minutes, the average travel time is 8% higher than the state level. At 50% lower than the state level, the 5.3% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. Polk carries more traffic than 26% of counties in Minnesota. On travel time, Polk runs longer than 58% of counties in Minnesota.
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.
2,316
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
9.5%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
44.1 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.
4.9%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$72,016
A significant volume of traffic in Polk County, Minnesota utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 2,316 vehicles per day, 104% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 1,134 vehicles per day. That average covers 180 highway road miles divided in 679 segments (average segment length 1,403 ft), together carrying 364,931 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈133 million per year). That is more highway travel volume than 55% of counties in Minnesota. Trucks constitute 9.5% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
At 9.5%, highway truck share is 7% lower than the state average, marking Polk as a primarily local traffic hub - underscoring the importance of local access for logistics operators. By truck concentration, highways here outrank 26% of counties in Minnesota. Polk's highway truck count is higher than 2% of counties in Minnesota, at roughly 220 trucks per day.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
1,134
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
6.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
33.1 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.
5.4%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
40.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$79,617
The non-highway road network in Polk County, Minnesota supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 1,134 vehicles per day, 51% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 2,316 vehicles per day. That average covers 643 non-highway road miles divided in 3,824 segments (average segment length 888 ft), together carrying 513,955 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈188 million per year). Trucks constitute 6.4% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 33% lower than the highway network. At 45% lower than the state level, the non-highway congestion ratio of 5.4% signals easier movement on local roads. Polk's overall average travel time exceeds 58% of counties in Minnesota. Polk's average driver income exceeds 57% of counties in Minnesota. 2% of counties in Minnesota have a younger driver population than Polk.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 86% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 25% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
July–September is the high season, with volumes +10% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
April is the quietest month, with volumes -22% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Polk County, Minnesota, the peak hour concentrates about 8% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +10% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Polk
Minnesota
Average
Difference
Traffic
1,312
3,404
-61.5%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
7.7%
8.1%
-4.7%
Truck % (Highway)
9.5%
10.3%
-7.4%
Avg. Travel Time
34.7 min
32.2 min
+7.7%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 1,312 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Polk's highway truck share of 9.5% is higher than 26% of counties in Minnesota.
Drivers on Polk roads have a median age of 42 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $76,388 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Trucks account for approximately 7.7% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 9.5% on highways.
The average travel time for drivers is 34.7 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Approximately 10% of highway traffic and 15% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Polk County, Minnesota.
Traffic volumes are typically 10% higher during July–September. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in April, averaging 1,025 vehicles per day - a 22% decrease from the annual average.
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)
