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Elon, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Elon, North Carolina had a total population of 11,032, the 91st largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $84,773, which is 17% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.0%.

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

Elon Quick Facts

Population 11,032
Median Household Income $84,773
Median Home Value $366,300
Poverty Rate 20.0%
Unemployment Rate 5.1%
Median Age 21.2 years
Homeownership Rate 70.1%
Affordability Ratio 4.3x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 51.5%
High School Graduation Rate 94.8%
Diversity Index 36/100
Population 11,032 91st of 772
Median Income $84,773 top 30%
Poverty Rate 20.0% 60% higher than national
Median Home Value $366,300 top 20%

How Elon 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
Population11,32511,032-2.6%
Median household income$82,717$84,773+2.5%
Median home value$355,800$366,300+3.0%

How Elon Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.4%
$25K-$50K 16.8%
$50K-$100K 28.0%
$100K+ 42.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.6%
$10K-$15K
2.0%
$15K-$20K
2.0%
$20K-$25K
1.8%
$25K-$30K
2.5%
$30K-$35K
5.6%
$35K-$40K
1.7%
$40K-$45K
3.9%
$45K-$50K
3.1%
$50K-$60K
4.2%
$60K-$75K
12.2%
$75K-$100K
11.6%
$100K-$125K
7.9%
$125K-$150K
5.1%
$150K-$200K
13.2%
$200K+
16.4%

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
42.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.1%
Renter 29.9%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $2,080/mo 29.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

36out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Elon Rankings in North Carolina

#91 Population of 772
#159 Median Income of 716
#86 Education of 772
#141 Home Value of 725

Other Cities in Alamance County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Mebane 19,538 $83,174 7.2% $338,900
Graham 18,048 $56,239 16.8% $233,800
Glen Raven 3,506 $63,173 16.7% $224,000
Green Level 3,230 $55,823 19.0% $168,400
Haw River 2,824 $61,058 25.1% $162,400
Swepsonville 2,517 $100,559 4.1% $311,200
Saxapahaw 1,301 $59,000 15.1% $194,000
Alamance 1,267 $99,375 10.3% $407,300
Woodlawn 1,085 $72,734 0.0% $327,600
Ossipee 795 $70,417 14.2% $125,700

Cities Similar to Elon

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Winterville10,725$83,193$245,10041.1%9.8%
Spout Springs11,242$92,402$358,50041.4%4.2%
Pineville11,055$69,354$395,10044.9%13.8%
Hillsborough9,724$98,163$460,10061.4%8.0%
Oak Island9,030$85,872$456,50043.6%8.7%

Population Overview

Elon is a small city located in North Carolina, within Alamance County. The total population is 11,032. It ranks as the 91st most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elon is 21.2 years. This is 46% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 10.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elon is $84,773. This is 17% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 5% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.0%. This is 53% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $366,300. Housing costs are 27% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 70.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elon is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.6%. The Black or African American population (9.6%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.

Education

51.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% higher 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 94.8%. Notably, 28.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elon, North Carolina 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 North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Elon, North Carolina?

Elon, North Carolina has a population of 11,032 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Elon, NC?

The median household income in Elon is $84,773, which is 5% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Elon, NC?

The poverty rate in Elon is 20.0%. This means approximately 1,311 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Elon, North Carolina?

Elon's population is 79.0% White, 9.6% Black, 3.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 4.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in Elon, NC?

The median home value in Elon is $366,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x.

How educated is Elon, North Carolina?

51.5% of adults (25+) in Elon hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 28.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.