United States › Nevada › Elko CITY
Elko Nevada · 21,019 residents (2025 est.) · 17.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
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
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
Section 01
Population & growth from 16,708 in 2000
21,019 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,160 / sq mi
+22%since 2009
from 948 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 31.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K 16K 18K 20K 21K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Elko Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $79,036
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,608 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $20,101 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 37.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.392 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 20.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.1%
Transportation & warehousing 3.6%
Public administration 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
Education & health services 0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$309,100
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $112,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,267
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $614 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 62.6% in 2000
37.4% rent
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.53 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 36.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.7 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 73.3%(12,248)
Hispanic / Latino 21.1%(3,528)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 60%(12,419)
Hispanic / Latino 28.9%(5,981)
from 55 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 78.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 68.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 72.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 72.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 7.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 82.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 92.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 78.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 82.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 14.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 41.6%(3,475)
Women 15+
Never married 34.8%(2,748)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 68.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 6.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 11.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 13.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 72.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 23.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.4%(138)
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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Elko, Nevada? Elko, Nevada has about 20,696 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Elko, Nevada? The typical household in Elko, Nevada earns about $79,036 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Elko, Nevada expensive? In Elko, Nevada, the median home is worth about $309,100, and the typical rent is about $1,267 a month.
How educated are people in Elko, Nevada? About 17.2% of adults age 25 and over in Elko, Nevada hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Elko, Nevada? About 13.8% of people in Elko, Nevada live below the federal poverty line.
Has Elko, Nevada grown since 1990? Yes, Elko, Nevada has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,843 residents, a change of about 39 percent over that period.
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