COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Polk County: higher-rate fatality band
Polk County (WI) is in the higher per-capita third: 35.0/100k (#272 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 85
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 16
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 35.0
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Polk County ranks #272 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (35.0/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Polk County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Polk County sits in the higher-rate third at 35.0 per 100k (#272 of 2,328), #3 of 67 in WI.
- #272 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #854 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #3 of 67
- in WI by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA FARS milepost
Milepost POLK-95 · Polk 35.0/100k · #272 of 2,328
Polk County · 35.0/100k · increasing
- POST 35.0/100k
- BAND #272 of 2,328
- VOL 85 book
- AVG Increasing
- YOY 72 crash
- RATE +155.1% vs WI
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Wisconsin state profile →
How does Polk County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Polk County is 2.6× deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Wisconsin, Polk County ranks 3 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 13.7 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Polk County's rate and the state average is 21.3 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Lafayette County, at 35.4 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.4). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Adams County (37.3), Lafayette County (35.4), Sawyer County (32.3), Waushara County (32.1), Lincoln County (31.7), Burnett County (29.3), Iowa County (29.2), Richland County (23.3), Buffalo County (22.4), Rusk County (21.2), Jackson County (19.2), Fond Du Lac County (19.2), Green County (18.9), Oneida County (18.3).
Polk County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
35 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 12% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Polk County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Polk County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Wisconsin statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for WI
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with PLetter index including WI counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Polk County, Wisconsin?
Polk County recorded 85 total traffic fatalities across 72 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 16 fatalities. The county averages approximately 9.4 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Polk County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (72 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Polk County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Wisconsin may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Polk County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Polk County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Polk County?
Polk County has a fatality rate of 35.0 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Polk County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Polk County ranks #272 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #3 of 67 rated counties in WI, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Polk County compare to the rest of Wisconsin?
Polk County's per-capita rate of 35.0 per 100,000 residents is above the Wisconsin county average of 13.7. Visit the Wisconsin state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Polk County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.