Elk City, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 245, Elk City's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Elk City is a small community located in Kansas, within Montgomery County. The total population is 245. It ranks as the 394th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elk City is 50.4 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. Only 12.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 21.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elk City is $46,250. This is 38% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.1%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 15.7%. This is 302% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $27,500. Housing costs are 87% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.6x, Elk City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elk City is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 13.6%.

Education

12.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elk City, Kansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 721 Census-designated places in Kansas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.