Elko, Nevada Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Elko, Nevada had a total population of 20,696, the 18th largest city in Nevada, with a median household income of $79,036, which is about the same as the state average. The poverty rate is 13.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Elko Quick Facts
How Elko 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 | 20,624 | 20,696 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $75,630 | $79,036 | +4.5% |
| Median home value | $285,400 | $309,100 | +8.3% |
How Elko Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 69 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Elko Rankings in Nevada
Explore Nevada Rankings
Other Cities in Elko County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek | 14,739 | $105,154 | 7.3% | $360,600 |
| West Wendover | 4,514 | $49,013 | 7.4% | $139,700 |
| Carlin | 2,088 | $60,898 | 6.5% | $179,700 |
| Jackpot | 1,415 | N/A | 3.0% | $157,900 |
| Wells | 1,352 | $107,454 | 21.3% | $205,300 |
| Osino | 1,341 | $92,756 | 1.0% | $106,300 |
| Owyhee | 647 | $54,000 | 31.5% | $119,300 |
| Montello | 80 | N/A | 32.5% | N/A |
| Mountain City | 16 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Elko
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Valley | 22,228 | $77,446 | $349,100 | 10.8% | 16.9% |
| Mesquite | 22,059 | $75,227 | $388,600 | 23.7% | 10.6% |
| Fernley | 24,225 | $89,517 | $366,700 | 16.4% | 12.8% |
| Boulder City | 14,919 | $74,757 | $435,600 | 31.1% | 11.4% |
| Spanish Springs | 17,980 | $127,658 | $623,900 | 30.0% | 2.9% |
Population Overview
Elko is a small city located in Nevada, within Elko County. The total population is 20,696. It ranks as the 18th most populous out of 123 Census-designated places in Nevada.
Age Demographics
The median age in Elko is 33.2 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Elko is $79,036. This is about the same as the state median of $78,260. It is also 2% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 7.0%. The median home value is $309,100. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $435,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 62.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 60.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Elko is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.9%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 8.8%.
Education
17.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 85.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Elko, Nevada 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 Nevada state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 123 Census-designated places in Nevada. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Nevada city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Elko, Nevada?
Elko, Nevada has a population of 20,696 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Elko, NV?
The median household income in Elko is $79,036, which is 2% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Elko, NV?
The poverty rate in Elko is 13.8%. This means approximately 2,793 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Elko, Nevada?
Elko's population is 60.0% White, 1.1% Black, 28.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.8% Asian.
What is the median home value in Elko, NV?
The median home value in Elko is $309,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x.
How educated is Elko, Nevada?
17.2% of adults (25+) in Elko hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.