Population 10,281 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Elon
Household size in Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.67 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.37 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.67 people per household, Elon sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in North Carolina as a whole, where it has 2.52 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.30, even as the national average fell.
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 Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Elon is young: half of its residents are under 33.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 are younger.
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 Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Elon: 4.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only five have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Elon
Renters in Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.9% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.6% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −10.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Elon rent their homes (25.6%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About three in ten owners (30.5%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the east. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 10.0 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.1% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Elon: 17.1% 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. Vacancy is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Elon has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1995, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $874 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,006 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,282 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,473 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$598 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Elon pays $1,473 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in North Carolina as a whole ($1,317). Rents are up $598 a month from 2006–10, a 68% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 44.0% 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 Elon
Bachelor's degrees in Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.1 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Elon is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (48.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 12.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the center.
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 Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.2% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.6% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Elon have finished high school as nationally: 87.9%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina overall (90.2%). The share with a diploma has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
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 Elon
| Period | Elon | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Elon than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.5 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Elon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elon | 2.67 | 33.7 | 4.0% | 25.6% | 17.1% | 1995 | $1,473 | 48.2% | 87.9% | 4.5% |
| Glen Raven | 2.64 | 31.4 | 15.1% | 38.2% | 11.2% | 1982 | $929 | 21.4% | 83.3% | 4.0% |
| Gibsonville | 2.58 | 43.7 | 8.9% | 20.9% | 8.6% | 1996 | $1,360 | 32.8% | 94.3% | 3.9% |
| Burlington | 2.50 | 39.5 | 14.7% | 41.5% | 9.1% | 1979 | $1,096 | 26.9% | 86.9% | 5.8% |
| Ossipee | 2.49 | 38.3 | 23.0% | 22.9% | 18.6% | 1978 | $780 | 16.6% | 93.5% | 7.7% |
| Alamance | 2.83 | 40.1 | 3.2% | 17.4% | 3.9% | 1985 | $1,114 | 31.1% | 92.8% | 0.1% |
| Elon College | 2.50 | 41.1 | 14.7% | 18.4% | 14.7% | 1991 | $935 | 25.6% | 92.8% | 4.3% |
| Whitsett | 2.60 | 40.3 | 11.1% | 23.7% | 9.9% | 2003 | $1,064 | 40.3% | 90.4% | 2.5% |
| Sedalia | 2.56 | 47.9 | 6.2% | 10.4% | 1.5% | 1988 | $1,113 | 40.0% | 93.4% | 1.8% |
| Bellemont | 2.85 | 37.3 | 5.5% | 14.6% | 8.0% | 1999 | $1,077 | 25.5% | 95.0% | 7.1% |
| Graham | 2.36 | 40.5 | 11.3% | 34.9% | 8.9% | 1988 | $1,065 | 26.1% | 89.1% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tremonton, UT · Cranbury, NJ · Woodbury, CT · Wilkesboro, NC · Cushing, OK · Cynthiana, KY · Darby, PA · Decorah, IA · Woodbine, MD · Victoria, MN
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 Elon. 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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