Elko is home to 20,696 people in Nevada. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 17% of adults. This skews young, with a median age of 33.2. Growth has run 24% since 2000, or 3,988 more people. There are 1,160 people per square mile. 8% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $79,036, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Elko
What changed most since 1990
Poverty rate7.7% → 13.8%(+6.1 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Elko's population equals 38% of Elko County's. Its number of people who work from home equals 22% of the county's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 54% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)29.9%(224)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.4%(138)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29.9%(224)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.3%(32)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.9%(7)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 748 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Elko, decade by decade
Elko population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
14,853
$84,600
$205,686
15.8%
40.2
2000
16,708
$88,547
$205,665
17.1%
52.0
2010
18,297
$96,524
$261,101
17.8%
60.1
2020
20,564
$94,126
$278,284
18.6%
69.4
2024
20,696
$79,036
$309,100
17.2%
68.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
