Census-designated place · Washington
Elk Plain, Washington
Elk Plain, census-designated place, in Pierce County, Washington. Elk Plain had 14,276 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,071). GEOID 5321205.
Residents, 2020-2024
14,276
±1,071 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 14,534
Median household income
$107,313
±$8,430 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$473,500
±$19,407 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$2,172
±$187 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Elk Plain and what county is it in?
Elk Plain is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Pierce County, Washington. It covers 8.4 square miles of land, 1,734 residents per square mile in 2020.
Elk Plain is in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Elk Plain, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Elk Plain's population at 14,276 (±1,071). The 2020 Census counted 14,534 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Elk Plain is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Elk Plain | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,276 ±1,071 | 930,319 | no clear change |
| Households | 4,810 ±324 | 351,330 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.96 ±0.14 | 2.59 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,059 ±300 | 369,709 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Elk Plain?
The median resident of Elk Plain is 38.0 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 14.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 69.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.1%. 8.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Elk Plain | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 ±3.1 | 37.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.0% ±2.3 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.4% ±2.2 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±2.1 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.1% ±3.6 pts | 12.8% | +5.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 69.2% ±4.9 pts | 61.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±1.9 pts | 7.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±2.0 pts | 6.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.1% ±1.7 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.1% ±2.1 pts | 10.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.4% ±4.0 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 16.6% ±2.9 pts | 10.9% | – |
| With a disability | 17.8% ±2.7 pts | 14.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9% ±1.4 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.7% ±2.1 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 17.5% ±3.3 pts | 30.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.5% ±1.1 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.2% ±4.2 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Elk Plain earn?
Half of Elk Plain's 4,810 households earn less than $107,313 a year (±$8,430), against $99,564 in Pierce County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $86,199 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $21,114 after inflation. 8.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Elk Plain | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $107,313 ±$8,430 | $99,564 | +$21,114 |
| Mean household income | $126,809 ±$11,328 | $124,488 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,898 ±$3,421 | $47,648 | +$4,799 |
| People below the poverty line | 8.3% ±2.9 pts | 8.8% | −6.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.4% ±5.1 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.3% ±3.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.2% ±2.0 pts | 97.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.3% ±2.4 pts | 94.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Elk Plain?
Owners occupy 84.2% of Elk Plain's occupied homes and renters 15.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $473,500 by its owner (±$19,407). The median renter pays $2,172 a month including utilities, and 39.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Elk Plain | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $473,500 ±$19,407 | $526,600 | +$192,040 |
| Median gross rent | $2,172 ±$187 | $1,806 | +$498 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.8% ±13.1 pts | 42.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,371 ±$137 | $2,423 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 84.2% ±3.6 pts | 64.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 15.8% ±3.6 pts | 35.3% | – |
| Housing units | 5,059 ±300 | 369,709 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.0% ±5.2 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 84.0% ±3.0 pts | 65.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 12.9% ±3.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.6% ±2.1 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.0% ±1.2 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.2% ±1.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Elk Plain work and get to work?
80.0% of Elk Plain's workers drive alone and 10.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 36.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.0%.
| Measure | Elk Plain | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.9% ±3.6 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% ±1.2 pts | 5.2% | −3.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 80.0% ±4.4 pts | 70.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.2% ±2.9 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.9% ±2.6 pts | 13.9% | +7.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 36.5 min ±2.9 | 31.3 min | −5.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Elk Plain?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Elk Plain, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $92,158 (Tract 731.14) to $126,528 (Tract 731.15).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 731.14Pierce County | 5,105 | $92,158 |
| Tract 731.15Pierce County | 4,595 | $126,528 |
| Tract 714.14Pierce County | 4,169 | $112,422 |
| Tract 714.15Pierce County | 2,878 | $81,923 |
| Tract 714.13Pierce County | 2,806 | $133,372 |
| Tract 731.17Pierce County | 3,587 | $114,639 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Elk Plain) · Census block assignment files
How does Elk Plain compare with other places in Washington?
Elk Plain ranks 131st of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 95th | 393 |
| Residents per square mile | 166th | 394 |
| Median household income | 131st | 387 |
| Per capita income | 220th | 393 |
| Median home value | 211th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 66th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 164th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 327th | 382 |
| Median age | 230th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 105th | 388 |
| Work from home | 232nd | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 42nd | 394 |
Elk Plain's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Elk Plain with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Elk Plain?
12 of the 57 figures for Elk Plain on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Elk Plain are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.