This page delivers traffic analytics for Polk County, Missouri. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Polk County, Missouri among 301 road miles divided in 3,377 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 470 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.
2,533
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.
33.9 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.
15.4%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.1 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$60,892
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 2,533 vehicles per day in Polk County, Missouri that results in 773,279 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈282 million per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 9 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 33.9 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Missouri state averages: Polk's average daily traffic volume is 55% lower than the state average - 2,533 vehicles per day against 5,631 - suggesting less traffic load per road, a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Network-wide, Polk accounts for about 0.4% of Missouri's statewide total, at 773,279 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈282 million per year). Journey times run 8% higher than the state level, at 33.9 minutes on average. At 21% lower than the state level, the 15.4% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. 60% of counties in Missouri see less traffic than Polk's 2,533 vehicles per day. On travel time, Polk runs longer than 70% of counties in Missouri.
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.
6,471
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
14.6%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
52.1 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.
12.2%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
46.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$61,151
A significant volume of traffic in Polk County, Missouri utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 6,471 vehicles per day, 171% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 2,385 vehicles per day. That average covers 68 highway road miles divided in 122 segments (average segment length 2,925 ft), together carrying 446,735 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈163 million per year). Trucks constitute 14.6% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
At 14.6%, highway truck share is 8% higher than the state average, marking Polk as a significant freight corridor - underscoring the importance of highway access for logistics operators. 53% of counties in Missouri see a lower highway truck share than Polk's 14.6%. Polk's highway truck count is higher than 42% of counties in Missouri, at roughly 942 trucks per day.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
2,385
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
6.2%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
33.3 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.
15.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$60,718
The non-highway road network in Polk County, Missouri supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 2,385 vehicles per day, 63% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 6,471 vehicles per day. That average covers 233 non-highway road miles divided in 3,255 segments (average segment length 378 ft), together carrying 326,543 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈119 million per year). Trucks constitute 6.2% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 57% lower than the highway network. The non-highway congestion ratio of 15.5% is 17% lower than the state level, suggesting more efficient local mobility than the state average. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 70% of counties in Missouri. Trip origins here have higher average income than 48% of counties in Missouri. Polk's median driver age is higher than 35% of counties in Missouri.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 66% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 25% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
April–June is the high season, with volumes +6% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -10% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Polk County, Missouri, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +6% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Polk
Missouri
Average
Difference
Traffic
2,533
5,631
-55.0%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
11.0%
9.8%
+12.3%
Truck % (Highway)
14.6%
13.4%
+8.3%
Avg. Travel Time
33.9 min
31.3 min
+8.5%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 2,533 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
The driver population in Polk skews older than 35% of counties in Missouri.
Drivers on Polk roads have a median age of 48 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $60,892 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Trucks account for approximately 11.0% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 14.6% on highways.
Weekday peaks occur between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the evening - about 66% above the daily average.
Approximately 41% of highway traffic and 13% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Polk County, Missouri. 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)
