Elon town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Elon town is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 11,325. It ranks as the 88th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elon town is 21.9 years. This is 44% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 11.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elon town is $82,717. This is 18% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 5% higher. The poverty rate stands at 22.6%. This is 71% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $355,800. Housing costs are 37% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 66.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elon town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.0%. The Black or African American population (8.0%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 10.9%.

Education

53.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Elon town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 53% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%. Notably, 24.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elon town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.