Population 1,820 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Elkader
Household size in Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.07 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.15 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Elkader is a place of small households, averaging 2.21 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
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 Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.6 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.3 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.5, Elkader is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 46.6, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Elkader: 5.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Elkader
Renters in Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.1% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Elkader is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (51.1%) 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 Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.3% of the housing in Elkader, 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 Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1945 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
Elkader is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $510 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $535 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $695 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $824 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$314 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Elkader costs $824 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 31.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Elkader
Bachelor's degrees in Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Elkader: 23.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Elkader: 96.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Elkader
| Period | Elkader | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.9% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Elkader has been strong: just 0.1% 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).
Elkader 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkader | 2.21 | 45.5 | 5.1% | 20.1% | 15.3% | 1953 | $824 | 23.0% | 96.4% | 0.1% |
| Communia | 2.20 | 45.5 | 5.5% | 22.3% | 17.4% | 1955 | $824 | 26.5% | 96.6% | 0.0% |
| St. Olaf | 2.37 | 57.3 | 1.7% | 15.0% | 14.7% | 1939 | $917 | 7.3% | 98.9% | 1.0% |
| Osborne | 2.00 | 57.6 | 2.2% | 11.4% | 10.9% | 1944 | $834 | 9.7% | 89.0% | 3.9% |
| Volga | 2.07 | 54.4 | 2.6% | 12.0% | 10.4% | 1943 | $835 | 10.4% | 90.6% | 3.1% |
| Farmersburg | 2.18 | 42.6 | 16.4% | 28.2% | 6.3% | 1941 | $694 | 8.6% | 92.1% | 1.3% |
| Littleport | 2.13 | 48.3 | 8.6% | 18.5% | 5.6% | 1958 | $862 | 13.3% | 92.1% | 1.5% |
| Froelich | 2.05 | 42.4 | 17.6% | 28.1% | 10.6% | 1943 | $610 | 8.8% | 89.8% | 1.0% |
| Elkport | 2.59 | 45.3 | 9.8% | 17.6% | 13.8% | 1960 | $795 | 7.9% | 87.7% | 3.5% |
| Mederville | 2.32 | 52.8 | 5.5% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 1947 | $883 | 9.9% | 86.7% | 4.5% |
| Garnavillo | 2.02 | 49.4 | 8.7% | 18.7% | 16.2% | 1962 | $816 | 13.4% | 92.0% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Luthersville, GA · Rotan, TX · Roseland, FL · Reagan, TN · Peletier, NC · New Lebanon, NY · New Harmony, IN · Montreal, MO · Milford, KS · McKenney, VA
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 Elkader. 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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