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COUNTY

Elk County

Kansas · 2,458 residents (2025 est.) · 644.264 sq mi
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The short version

Elk County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,609. Population has fallen 25% since 2000, a loss of 808 residents. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $68,500. With a median age of 48.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

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

Total population
2,453
−25%since 2000
from 3,261 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4 / sq mi
−19%since 2009
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.8
+6%since 2000
from 46.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,458 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K3K3K3K1990201020202024Elk County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(121)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(142)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.7%(189)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(164)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.9%(96)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.3%(203)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448.3%(204)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.6%(260)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.3%(375)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.6%(382)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848%(197)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.9%(120)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,609
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,267 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,216
+94%since 2000
from $16,066 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.1%
+26.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.395
−5%since 2010
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade11%
US avg: 6.9%
Construction9.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Information7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade5.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing5.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$68,500
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$552
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $301 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
21.2% rent
Vacancy rate
33.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.9%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
28.8%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.1
−38%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
46
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Elk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(3,081)
Black0.2%(7)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(71)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.4%(2,144)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(110)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other7.8%(191)
Diversity Score
28
+76%since 2009
from 16 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.4%(109)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(1)
Ancestry
German17.8%(436)
American15.1%(371)
Irish13.6%(333)
English12.7%(311)
Scottish2.4%(60)
Italian1.8%(43)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(42)
French1.2%(30)
Russian1.2%(29)
Welsh0.7%(17)
Dutch0.7%(16)
British0.6%(15)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Belgian0.2%(5)
Norwegian0.2%(5)
Swedish0.2%(4)
Swiss0.2%(4)
Arab0.1%(2)
Lebanese0.1%(2)
Polish0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.5%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.7%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.7 min
+24%since 2000
from 27.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 72.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.2%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.2%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.0%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 55.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
22.5%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.4%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 65.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.3%
−39.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2012
from 26.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.4%
−77.1 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.0%
+21.7 ptssince 2017
from 64.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.8%(266)
Married53.7%(532)
Widowed7.1%(70)
Divorced12.4%(123)
Women 15+
Never married16.3%(165)
Married57.5%(581)
Widowed11.8%(119)
Divorced14.4%(145)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Elk County to nearby counties

ELK COUNTY VS
Chautauqua County
Income$56,438−13%
Home value$65,500−4%
Population3,321+35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELK COUNTY VS
Wilson County
Income$60,677−6%
Home value$93,500+36%
Population8,299+238%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELK COUNTY VS
Greenwood County
Income$60,042−7%
Home value$88,700+29%
Population5,826+137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELK COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income$55,697−14%
Home value$101,700+48%
Population30,177+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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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9651
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 67349ZIP 67353ZIP 67352ZIP 67346ZIP 67345
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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