City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Elim, AK

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Elim - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

278
Residents
$35,000
Median income
$117,300
Median home
$1,533
Median rent (state)

Elim - the verdict

Elim ranks in the 4th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
16th
percentile, home value
61st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Elim, AK

Elim is a small town in Alaska, home to 278 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Elim households earn a median of $35,000 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 33.3%. Elim's housing stock carries a median value of $117,300, and the median resident age is 20.9 years. About 10.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 32.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Alaska tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Alaska at 102.4 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,533 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $271 across Alaska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 34.1 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

278 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$35,000 /yr

Poverty 33.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Elim compare to other US cities?

Here's how Elim stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 16% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Elim's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Alaska, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elim's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$117,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 84% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Elim $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Elim, AK Elim, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elim, AK-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Elim, AK median $35,000/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Elim, AK's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Elim, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 33.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 32.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
278
Median Income
$35,000
Median Home Value
$117,300
Median Age
20.9
Poverty Rate
33.3%
Labor force participation
32.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.8%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
355 residents360 residents365 residents370 residents375 residents 202020212022202320242025 371 residents 363 residents ▼ -2.2%
Elim's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
7.0%
Carpool
5.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
33.3%
Work from Home
3.5%
Other
50.9%

Based on 57 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alaska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$271
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alaska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alaska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Elim sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,533/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
34.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Anaktuvuk Pass
277 people
Akiak
273 people
Nulato
284 people
Wales
286 people
Point Lay
288 people
Mekoryuk
290 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elim's 278 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Palominas, AZ
278 people
Acampo, CA
278 people
Leroy, IN
278 people
Rutledge, MN
278 people
Truchas, NM
278 people
Fowlerville, NY
278 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elim's $35,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bowman, GA
$35,000 median income
Jacksonville, GA
$35,000 median income
Freeman Spur, IL
$35,000 median income
Melvin, IL
$35,000 median income
Morehead, KY
$35,000 median income
Nett Lake, MN
$35,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elim, AK Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Elim, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.7% White 2.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.8% American Indian 95.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Elim compares to nearby Alaska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Elim (this city) 278 $35,000
Anaktuvuk Pass 277 $83,250
Akiak 273 $71,667
Nulato 284 $52,143
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elim, AK?

What is the population of Elim, AK? +

Elim, AK counts 278 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Elim, AK? +

In Elim, the typical household earns $35,000 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elim? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elim; the closest available measure is the Alaska state average, a cost of living index of 102.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alaska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Elim, AK? +

Homes in Elim carry a median value of $117,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.