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Elko County, Nevada Demographics 2026

Elko County, Nevada has a population of 54,047, the 6th most populous county in Nevada. The median household income is $86,487 and the median home value is $301,400. The poverty rate is 9.8%.

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

Elko County Quick Facts

Population 54,047
Median Household Income $86,487
Median Home Value $301,400
Poverty Rate 9.8%
Unemployment Rate 4.5%
Median Age 35.7 years
Homeownership Rate 71.4%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 17.8%
High School Graduation 87.2%
Cities/Places 10
Population 54,047 6th of 17
Median Income $86,487 11% higher than state
Poverty Rate 9.8%
Unemployment 4.5%

How Elko County Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population53,85254,047+0.4%
Median household income$83,427$86,487+3.7%
Median home value$282,400$301,400+6.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.6%
$25K-$50K 17.6%
$50K-$100K 26.9%
$100K+ 43.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.6%
$10K-$15K
3.3%
$15K-$20K
2.5%
$20K-$25K
3.1%
$25K-$30K
4.9%
$30K-$35K
2.9%
$35K-$40K
3.0%
$40K-$45K
2.6%
$45K-$50K
4.1%
$50K-$60K
6.1%
$60K-$75K
8.9%
$75K-$100K
11.9%
$100K-$125K
12.8%
$125K-$150K
9.6%
$150K-$200K
11.5%
$200K+
9.1%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 7.0%|National: 5.2%
67.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.4%
Renter 28.6%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,164/mo 16.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

55out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 69 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Elko County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Elko20,696$79,03613.8%$309,100
Spring Creek14,739$105,1547.3%$360,600
West Wendover4,514$49,0137.4%$139,700
Carlin2,088$60,8986.5%$179,700
Jackpot1,415N/A3.0%$157,900
Wells1,352$107,45421.3%$205,300
Osino1,341$92,7561.0%$106,300
Owyhee647$54,00031.5%$119,300
Montello80N/A32.5%N/A
Mountain City16N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Elko County is located in Nevada with a total population of 54,047. It is the 6th most populous county out of 17 in Nevada. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elko County is 35.7 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elko County is $86,487. This is 11% higher than the state median of $78,260. It is also 7% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 21% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 7.0%. The median home value is $301,400. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $435,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 60.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elko County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.0%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 8.8%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 27.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Elko County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Nevada 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 Elko County, Nevada?

Elko County has a population of 54,047, making it the 6th most populous county in Nevada.

What is the median income in Elko County?

The median household income in Elko County is $86,487 with a poverty rate of 9.8%.

How many cities are in Elko County, Nevada?

Elko County contains 10 Census-designated places.