City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Elkins, WV

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

6,875
Residents
$47,746
Median income
$130,500
Median home
$929
Median rent (state)

Elkins - the verdict

Elkins ranks in the 16th percentile for household income and the 69th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

16th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
8th
percentile, median rent
69th
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: Elkins, WV

6,875 people live in Elkins, West Virginia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Elkins brings in $47,746 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.5%. Typical homes in Elkins are valued around $130,500, and the median resident age is 36.1 years. 30.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 3 residential building permits were authorized in Elkins (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Elkins reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 880.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 46.6°F with 56.7 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, West Virginia scores 89.5 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $929 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in West Virginia run around $220, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Elkins workers runs 10.7 minutes, with 67.3% driving alone and 7.8% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 57.1 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

6,875 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$47,746 /yr

Poverty 11.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Elkins compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 16% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 8% pricier than other cities
Safety 69% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just West Virginia and the picture shifts: Elkins ranks #10 of 45 West Virginia cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

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 Elkins'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 West Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

16thIncome percentile
69thSafety percentile

16th percentile nationally for median household income · 69th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Elkins's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Elkins'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 57 Avg. percentile National median
Elkins'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 Elkins's home value compares nationally

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

$130,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Elkins $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 - Elkins, WV Elkins, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elkins, WV-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 Elkins, WV median $47,746/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%
Elkins, WV'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 Elkins, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.3%

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

Population
6,875
Median Income
$47,746
Median Home Value
$130,500
Median Age
36.1
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Labor force participation
57.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
880.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
477.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
403.0
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
46.6°F
Annual Precipitation
56.7"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,500 residents6,600 residents6,700 residents6,800 residents6,900 residents7,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,923 residents 6,622 residents ▼ -4.3%
Elkins's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 2
2021 1
2022 24
2023 1
2024 3

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
10.7 minutes
Drive Alone
67.3%
Carpool
12.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.3%
Work from Home
7.8%
Other
6.4%

Based on 3,267 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for West Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$220
estimated/month

Estimates reflect West Virginia 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 West Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Elkins sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$929/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
57.1 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Hurricane
6,891 people
Charles
6,854 people
Nitro
6,941 people
Pea Ridge
7,188 people
Brookhaven
6,465 people
Dunbar
7,340 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elkins's 6,875 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Savannah, TX
6,877 people
Litchfield Park, AZ
6,871 people
Walden, NY
6,871 people
Castroville, CA
6,870 people
Taylor Mill, KY
6,880 people
Norwich, NY
6,880 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elkins's $47,746 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Central City, IL
$47,750 median income
Danforth, IL
$47,750 median income
Neosho Falls, KS
$47,750 median income
Westport, OR
$47,750 median income
Santa Anna, TX
$47,750 median income
Florida City, FL
$47,754 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elkins, WV 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 Elkins, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.5% 6.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.3% White 88.5% Black or African American 3.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.7% Two or more races 6.8% 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 Elkins compares to nearby West Virginia cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Elkins (this city) 6,875 $47,746
Hurricane 6,891 $67,083
Charles 6,854 $94,830
Nitro 6,941 $52,247
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elkins, WV?

What is the population of Elkins, WV? +

Elkins, WV has a population of 6,875 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Elkins, WV? +

The median household income in Elkins is $47,746 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elkins? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elkins; the closest available measure is the West Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 89.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within West Virginia vary by metro area.

Is Elkins, WV safe? +

Elkins has a total crime rate of 880.6 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 Elkins, WV? +

A typical home in Elkins is worth $130,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Elkins? +

The average annual temperature in Elkins runs 46.6°F, 56.7 inches of precipitation. 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.