City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Elkin, NC

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

4,025
Residents
$60,434
Median income
$187,200
Median home
$1,232
Median rent (state)

Elkin - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Elkin lands in the 36th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

36th
percentile, household income
39th
percentile, home value
39th
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: Elkin, NC

4,025 people live in Elkin, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $60,434 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.8%. Typical homes in Elkin are valued around $187,200, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. Educational attainment runs 28.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 56.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 56.0°F with 49.0 inches of precipitation per year and 3.0 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,232 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 38.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

4,025 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$60,434 /yr

Poverty 14.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Elkin compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 36% higher than other cities
Home value 39% pricier than other cities
Median rent 39% 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 Elkin'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 North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

36thIncome percentile

36th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elkin's home value compares nationally

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

$187,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 61% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Elkin $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 - Elkin, NC Elkin, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elkin, NC-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 Elkin, NC median $60,434/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%
Elkin, NC'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 Elkin, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.2%

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

Population
4,025
Median Income
$60,434
Median Home Value
$187,200
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Labor force participation
56.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
56.0°F
Annual Precipitation
49.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.0"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,080 residents4,100 residents4,120 residents4,140 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,122 residents 4,130 residents ▲ +0.2%
Elkin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.6%
Carpool
17.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.1%
Work from Home
10.1%

Based on 1,771 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina 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 North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Elkin sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,232/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
38.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Stanley
4,014 people
Trent Woods
4,086 people
Forest Oaks
4,095 people
Bethlehem
3,928 people
Emerald Isle
3,915 people
Southport
4,143 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elkin's 4,025 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cedar Creek, TX
4,026 people
Bardonia, NY
4,022 people
Huntington, TX
4,022 people
Loxley, AL
4,029 people
South Eliot, ME
4,021 people
St. Charles, MN
4,021 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elkin's $60,434 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brentwood, PA
$60,432 median income
Hugoton, KS
$60,437 median income
Preston, MN
$60,438 median income
Corning, IA
$60,446 median income
Taylor, PA
$60,446 median income
Palmdale, PA
$60,449 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elkin, NC 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 Elkin, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.7% 8.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 29.0% White 80.7% Black or African American 2.9% Asian 1.9% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 5.7% Two or more races 8.6% 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 Elkin compares to nearby North Carolina cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Elkin (this city) 4,025 $60,434
Stanley 4,014 $71,333
Trent Woods 4,086 $109,097
Forest Oaks 4,095 $108,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elkin, NC?

What is the population of Elkin, NC? +

Elkin, NC counts 4,025 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Elkin, NC? +

In Elkin, the typical household earns $60,434 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elkin? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elkin; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Elkin, NC? +

Elkin's median home value sits at $187,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Elkin? +

The average annual temperature in Elkin runs 56.0°F, 49.0 inches of precipitation, and 3.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.