Population 2,369 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Elk Park
Household size in Elk Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.13 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.16 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.68 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.45 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.68 people per household, Elk Park sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in North Carolina overall, where it has 2.52 people. Household size has climbed from 2.24 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 Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.6 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.4 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.3 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Elk Park are younger than 40.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1.
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 Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −12.3 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.1% of households in Elk Park, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Park
Renters in Elk Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Elk Park is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 67.3% have no mortgage at all, 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 Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 35.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.3% of the housing in Elk Park, 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.
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 Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
The typical home in Elk Park was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in North Carolina as a whole, where the median home dates to 1990.
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 Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $619 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $739 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $760 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,003 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$385 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Elk Park costs $1,003 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 38.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Park
Bachelor's degrees in Elk Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Elk Park have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.1%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.7% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.4% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.1% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Elk Park never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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 Park
| Period | Elk Park | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.4%, unemployment in Elk Park is the same as the national rate. 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 Park compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Park | 2.68 | 40.9 | 6.1% | 21.1% | 23.3% | 1977 | $1,003 | 16.1% | 78.1% | 5.4% |
| Heaton | 2.94 | 35.2 | 3.4% | 22.2% | 19.0% | 1973 | $944 | 14.4% | 75.1% | 7.4% |
| Cranberry | 2.26 | 58.1 | 12.2% | 12.5% | 29.7% | 1984 | $676 | 15.6% | 90.0% | 6.1% |
| Poga | 1.96 | 57.0 | 3.1% | 13.7% | 32.7% | 1982 | $713 | 16.0% | 73.6% | 6.1% |
| Beech Mountain | 2.07 | 51.0 | 4.2% | 12.3% | 58.8% | 1983 | $1,016 | 42.2% | 90.6% | 7.0% |
| Sugar Mountain | 2.16 | 56.0 | 4.3% | 14.6% | 77.1% | 1985 | $1,121 | 57.2% | 97.0% | 3.1% |
| Roan Mountain | 2.72 | 44.9 | 2.3% | 8.6% | 26.4% | 1983 | $697 | 16.5% | 89.9% | 7.6% |
| Norwood Hollow | 2.28 | 40.3 | 8.8% | 23.8% | 65.4% | 1988 | $836 | 42.5% | 90.6% | 1.2% |
| Banner Elk | 2.33 | 41.3 | 9.7% | 19.5% | 58.0% | 1988 | $916 | 40.0% | 89.0% | 5.6% |
| Roaring Creek | 2.45 | 43.7 | 6.1% | 16.8% | 30.7% | 1981 | $645 | 24.8% | 89.1% | 4.0% |
| Grandfather | 2.15 | 57.8 | 3.5% | 12.9% | 79.1% | 1985 | $1,158 | 59.4% | 97.8% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Woodsboro, TX · Startzville, TX · Stoneboro, PA · The Plains, VA · Thorndale, TX · Fairfield, VA · Erie, IL · Cusseta, AL · Corydon, IA · Webster Springs, WV
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 Park. 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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