Elko, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 296, Elko'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

Elko is a small community located in South Carolina, within Barnwell County. The total population is 296. It ranks as the 382nd most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elko is 32.3 years. This is 20% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elko is $40,278. This is 42% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.7%. This is 90% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. 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 48.4%. This is 890% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $85,500. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Elko is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elko is Black or African American, making up 66.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 18.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (18.6%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (66.5% vs 24.6%).

Education

7.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 77% lower than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elko, South 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 South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.