United States › Kansas › Elk County COUNTY
Elk County Kansas · 2,458 residents (2025 est.) · 644 sq mi
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The short version
With 2,453 people, Elk County is a county in Kansas. The median age is 48.8, about 10 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $68,500, having more than doubled since 2000. Density works out to 4 people per square mile. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. Owners hold 79% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,261 in 2000
2,458 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 46.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 3K 3K 3K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Elk County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $64,609
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,267 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,066 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 14.8%
Public administration 3.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.7%
Education & health services 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$68,500
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$552
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $301 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 81.1% in 2000
21.2% rent
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.44 people
+15%since 2009
from 2.13 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.7 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 94.5%(3,081)
Hispanic / Latino 2.2%(71)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 87.4%(2,144)
Hispanic / Latino 4.5%(110)
from 16 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
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 80.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 27.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 72.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 55.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 63.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 26.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 64.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 82.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 23.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 32.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 21.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 60.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 51.2% 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) 7.1%(11)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.2%(33)
Share of the 156 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
Places similar to Elk County Head to head
Compare Elk County to nearby counties ELK COUNTY VS
Chautauqua County
Income $56,438 −13%
Home value $65,500 −4%
Population 3,321 +35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELK COUNTY VS
Wilson County
Income $60,677 −6%
Home value $93,500 +36%
Population 8,299 +238%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELK COUNTY VS
Greenwood County
Income $60,042 −7%
Home value $88,700 +29%
Population 5,826 +137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELK COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income $55,697 −14%
Home value $101,700 +48%
Population 30,177 +1128%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Elk County, Kansas? Elk County, Kansas has about 2,453 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Elk County, Kansas? The typical household in Elk County, Kansas earns about $64,609 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Elk County, Kansas expensive? In Elk County, Kansas, the median home is worth about $68,500, and the typical rent is about $552 a month.
How educated are people in Elk County, Kansas? About 21.5% of adults age 25 and over in Elk County, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Elk County, Kansas? About 10.4% of people in Elk County, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.
Has Elk County, Kansas grown since 1990? Yes, Elk County, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 874 residents, a change of about -26 percent over that period.
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