Is Polk County, AR good for real estate investing?

Polk County has an investment score of 74/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #74 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the median home price in Polk?

The median home price in Polk County is $195,659. This ranks #356 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Polk?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Polk County would generate positive cash flow of $0/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Polk County

ArkansasPopulation: 19,384

/100

Buy

#74 of 1,000 counties

#1 in Arkansas (74 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated July 28, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$195,659

Median Home Price

15% below national median

$11,822/mo

Est. Rent

Based on regional data

6.04%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Estimated from price data

+$0

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

74/100

Cash Flow(30%)

0/100

Rent data not available for cash flow calculation.

Appreciation(25%)

80/100

Based on 3.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

88/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Affordable relative to local incomes

Challenges

-Negative leverage (cap rate 0.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
-Limited rent data (estimates used)

Economic Indicators

Population

19,384

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Skip if

−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentPolkAR	74	$195,659	Est. pending	—	Buy
PrairieAR	74	$149,082	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
GrantAR	74	$206,491	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
ScottAR	73	$152,008	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
PerryAR	71	$182,366	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
JeffersonAR	71	$84,271	$886	12.61%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyPolk offers solid investment potential with roughly break-even cash flow at typical financing.

Polk County in Arkansas scores 74/100, ranking #74 of 1,000 US counties (top 9%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow. The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow

+$0/mo

Cap Rate

0.0%

Cash-on-Cash

0.0%