Population 2,453 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Elk County
Household size in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.09 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.07 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.41 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Elk County run a little small, averaging 2.50 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across Kansas. Household size has climbed from 2.09 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.4 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.9 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.2 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.9 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
Elk County skews older: half of its residents are older than 50.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Only one other Kansas county is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.8% of households in Elk County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Kansas counties, Elk County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Elk County
Renters in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.5% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Elk County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About seven in ten owners (71.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.5% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.2% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 36.4% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.4% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Elk County: 32.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Elk County has the highest vacancy rate of any Kansas county.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1954 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1954 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +5 | +6 |
Elk County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1954, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Elk County has older homes than the great majority of Kansas counties.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $442 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $551 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $505 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $545 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$103 | +$390 | +$606 |
The median renter in Elk County pays $545 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 19.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other Kansas county has lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Elk County
Bachelor's degrees in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.7% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Elk County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.8%, against 35.6% nationally. Elk County has a lower share of college graduates than most Kansas counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.4% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Elk County is close to the national rate: 90.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Elk County has a lower share of high school graduates than most Kansas counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Elk County
| Period | Elk County | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Elk County has been low: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Elk County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk County | 2.50 | 50.9 | 6.8% | 21.2% | 32.4% | 1954 | $545 | 21.8% | 90.5% | 1.8% |
| Wilson County | 2.41 | 43.9 | 14.6% | 22.3% | 20.8% | 1963 | $771 | 19.7% | 90.2% | 2.8% |
| Sumner County | 2.54 | 40.6 | 9.6% | 24.9% | 13.7% | 1964 | $891 | 25.7% | 94.4% | 5.4% |
| Crawford County | 2.38 | 35.0 | 13.4% | 39.2% | 12.4% | 1971 | $828 | 32.7% | 91.9% | 3.8% |
| Barton County | 2.68 | 41.8 | 13.7% | 31.9% | 13.7% | 1974 | $730 | 18.2% | 88.0% | 2.7% |
| Dade County | 2.51 | 47.6 | 6.5% | 23.0% | 18.5% | 1974 | $756 | 15.0% | 91.0% | 3.2% |
| Kiowa County | 2.31 | 40.5 | 3.3% | 27.0% | 17.4% | 1976 | $741 | 28.3% | 88.7% | 2.1% |
| Texas County | 2.52 | 44.3 | 9.5% | 22.8% | 13.2% | 1978 | $740 | 16.6% | 86.7% | 4.9% |
| Haskell County | 2.59 | 36.9 | 7.0% | 23.7% | 9.5% | 1974 | $836 | 19.3% | 74.7% | 3.8% |
| Grant County | 3.29 | 37.3 | 5.2% | 23.3% | 16.9% | 1975 | $708 | 22.6% | 76.1% | 0.7% |
| Reynolds County | 2.53 | 47.5 | 7.4% | 20.2% | 27.4% | 1975 | $635 | 15.5% | 81.9% | 8.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Donley County, TX · Sherman County, KS · Sheridan County, ND · Sheridan County, MT · Sheridan County, KS · Shelby County, MO · Shelby County, IA · Sharkey County, MS · Shannon County, MO · Edwards County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Elk County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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