Elgin, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 181, 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 Pennsylvania, within Erie County. The total population is 181. It ranks as the 1746th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elgin is 54.9 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 14.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 23.2% 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 $61,518. This is 21% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.6%. This is 43% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $99,300. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Elgin is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 91.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Elgin was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

7.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 99.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elgin, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.