Elgin, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 585, Elgin's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Elgin is a small community located in North Dakota, within Grant County. The total population is 585. It ranks as the 96th most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elgin is 49.5 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. 19.0% 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 Elgin is $35,188. This is 54% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 56% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.7%. This is 156% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. 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 11.1%. This is 303% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $103,000. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Elgin is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Elgin has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 4.8%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.8% vs 1.6%).

Education

21.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 32.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elgin, North Dakota 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 Dakota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.