Elk County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Name: Elk County, Kansas Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Elk County, Kansas has a population of 2,453, the 94th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $64,609 and the median home value is $68,500. The poverty rate is 10.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Elk County Quick Facts

Population 2,453

Median Household Income $64,609

Median Home Value $68,500

Poverty Rate 10.4%

Unemployment Rate 2.0%

Median Age 48.8 years

Homeownership Rate 78.8%

Affordability Ratio 1.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 21.5%

High School Graduation 90.7%

Cities/Places 5

Population 2,453 94th of 105

Median Income $64,609 13% lower than state

Poverty Rate 10.4%

Unemployment 2.0%

How Elk County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	2,464	2,453	-0.4%
Median household income	$56,087	$64,609	+15.2%
Median home value	$60,900	$68,500	+12.5%

Median Household Income

Elk

$64,609

$74,275

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Elk

$68,500

$217,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.1%

$25K-$50K 21.4%

$50K-$100K 33.8%

$100K+ 26.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.8%

$10K-$15K

3.4%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

5.0%

$25K-$30K

3.8%

$30K-$35K

5.1%

$35K-$40K

6.1%

$40K-$45K

3.0%

$45K-$50K

3.4%

$50K-$60K

9.0%

$60K-$75K

11.3%

$75K-$100K

13.5%

$100K-$125K

11.5%

$125K-$150K

7.7%

$150K-$200K

3.7%

$200K+

3.7%

Employment

2.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%

52.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.8%

Renter 21.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $552/mo 10.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.1%

18-34

14.2%

35-54

18.9%

55-74

30.9%

75+

12.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Elk County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Howard	516	$65,625	17.9%	$52,600
Moline	354	$52,813	11.1%	$34,600
Longton	302	$40,250	17.5%	$38,400
Grenola	142	$56,786	17.6%	$44,700
Elk Falls	126	$52,321	8.7%	$48,300

Explore Kansas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Elk County is located in Kansas with a total population of 2,453. It is the 94th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elk County is 48.8 years. This is 30% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 12.9% 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 County is $64,609. This is 13% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $68,500. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Elk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Elk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.5%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

21.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 90.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Elk County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kansas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Elk County, Kansas?

Elk County has a population of 2,453, making it the 94th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Elk County?

The median household income in Elk County is $64,609 with a poverty rate of 10.4%.

How many cities are in Elk County, Kansas?

Elk County contains 5 Census-designated places.