City profile · Oklahoma · Census ACS 2023

Elk City, OK

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

11,406
Residents
$49,500
Median income
$165,300
Median home
$1,048
Median rent (state)

Elk City - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Elk City lands in the 19th percentile for household income and the 54th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

19th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
54th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Elk City, OK

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 11,406 residents in Elk City, a small town within Oklahoma. The typical household in Elk City brings in $49,500 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.9%. Elk City's housing stock carries a median value of $165,300, and the median resident age is 34.6 years. About 15.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 4 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 56% from five years earlier. Elk City reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1258.8 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 60.1°F with 29.5 inches of precipitation per year and 8.6 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Oklahoma run below the national norm: the state registers 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,048 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Oklahoma's average monthly utility costs around $205 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 57.8 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

11,406 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oklahoma

Median Household Income

$49,500 /yr

Poverty 16.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oklahoma average

How does Elk City compare to other US cities?

Elk City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities
Safety 54% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Oklahoma alone, Elk City ranks #78 of 203 Oklahoma cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

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 Elk City'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 Oklahoma, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

19thIncome percentile
54thSafety percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income · 54th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Elk City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Elk City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 48 Avg. percentile National median
Elk City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Elk City's home value compares nationally

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

$165,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Elk City $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 - Elk City, OK Elk City, OK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elk City, OK-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 Elk City, OK median $49,500/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%
Elk City, OK'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 Elk City, OK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.5%

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

Population
11,406
Median Income
$49,500
Median Home Value
$165,300
Median Age
34.6
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Labor force participation
56.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1258.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
223.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1035.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
60.1°F
Annual Precipitation
29.5"
Annual Snowfall
8.6"

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 →
11,200 residents11,300 residents11,400 residents11,500 residents11,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 11,512 residents 11,335 residents ▼ -1.5%
Elk City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 9
2020 5
2021 4
2022 3
2023 2
2024 4

Permit volume decreased 56% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.0%
Carpool
7.1%
Public Transit
1.9%
Walk
2.9%
Work from Home
3.4%
Other
2.7%

Based on 4,821 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$205
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Elk City sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,048/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
57.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oklahoma

Okmulgee
11,370 people
Guthrie
11,021 people
Woodward
11,976 people
Weatherford
12,014 people
Choctaw
12,208 people
Newcastle
12,238 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elk City's 11,406 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wilton Manors, FL
11,403 people
Muscoy, CA
11,402 people
Port Lavaca, TX
11,410 people
East Glenville, NY
11,399 people
Dobbs Ferry, NY
11,397 people
Suffern, NY
11,395 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elk City's $49,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Coin, IA
$49,500 median income
Pigeon, MI
$49,500 median income
West Sullivan, MO
$49,500 median income
Taylor, NE
$49,500 median income
California, PA
$49,500 median income
Kernville, CA
$49,489 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elk City, OK 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 Elk City, OK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16.7% White 88.3% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 5.3% 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 Elk City compares to nearby Oklahoma cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Elk City (this city) 11,406 $49,500
Okmulgee 11,370 $39,060
Guthrie 11,021 $54,640
Woodward 11,976 $60,720
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OK FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elk City, OK?

What is the population of Elk City, OK? +

Elk City, OK has a population of 11,406 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Elk City, OK? +

In Elk City, the typical household earns $49,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elk City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elk City; the closest available measure is the Oklahoma state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Oklahoma vary by metro area.

Is Elk City, OK safe? +

Elk City has a total crime rate of 1258.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Elk City, OK? +

Homes in Elk City carry a median value of $165,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Elk City? +

Elk City has an average annual temperature of 60.1°F, 29.5 inches of precipitation, and 8.6 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.