County · Kansas
Elk County, Kansas
Elk County, Kansas. Elk County had 2,458 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.0% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 15 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 10 towns and townships) and 1 census tract. GEOID 20049.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,458
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,483 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,453
Median household income
$64,609
±$9,001 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$68,500
±$12,218 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$552
±$38 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
How many people live in Elk County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,483 residents in Elk County. The Census Bureau estimates 2,458 for July 1, 2025, down 1.0% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,453 over 644 square miles of land.
| Measure | Elk County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,453 | 2,947,197 | −70 |
| Households | 999±71 | 1,174,060 | −129 |
| Average household size | 2.44±0.17 | 2.44 | +0.23 |
| Housing units | 1,491±16 | 1,293,635 | −271 |
Elk County's population since 2000
From 3,261 in 2000 to 2,458 in 2025: down 24.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Elk County?
Elk County holds 15 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 10 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Howard Township, Elk County with 706 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Howard Township, Elk County | 713 | $66,042 |
|---|---|---|
| Howard | 570 | $65,625 |
| Wildcat Township, Elk County | 477 | $72,500 |
| Longton Township | 351 | $46,563 |
| Moline | 345 | $52,813 |
| Longton | 288 | $40,250 |
| Greenfield Township | 252 | $75,417 |
| Elk Falls TownshipGEOID 2004920325 | 197 | $69,375 |
| GrenolaGEOID 2028800 | 151 | $56,786 |
| Union Center TownshipGEOID 2004972500 | 115 | $139,318 |
| Elk FallsGEOID 2020300 | 113 | $52,321 |
| Paw Paw TownshipGEOID 2004954925 | 107 | not published |
| Liberty Township, Elk CountyGEOID 2004940025 | 106 | $58,523 |
| Oak Valley TownshipGEOID 2004951950 | 92 | $34,688 |
| Painterhood TownshipGEOID 2004954075 | 73 | $108,333 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Elk County?
The median resident of Elk County is 48.8 years old; 23.1% are under 18 and 28.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.2%. 1.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Elk County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8±2.0 | 37.4 | −3.5 |
| Under 18 years | 23.1% | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 28.5%±1.0 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.5% | 13.6% | −0.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.4%±1.2 pts | 72.7% | −2.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.2%±0.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.0%±0.5 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.2%±1.6 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.3%±2.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 24.7%±3.2 pts | 13.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4%±2.1 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.7%±2.3 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.5%±3.6 pts | 35.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.9%±1.9 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 County earn?
Half of Elk County's 999 households earn less than $64,609 a year (±$9,001), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 the median was $47,689 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $16,920 after inflation. 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Elk County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,609±$9,001 | $74,275 | +$16,920 |
| Mean household income | $73,099±$6,364 | $100,417 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,216±$2,754 | $40,978 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.4%±2.9 pts | 11.3% | −7.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.2%±7.1 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.3%±2.6 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.0%±3.9 pts | 90.7% | – |
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 County?
Owners occupy 78.8% of Elk County's occupied homes and renters 21.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $68,500 by its owner (±$12,218). The median renter pays $552 a month including utilities, and 32.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Elk County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $68,500±$12,218 | $217,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $552±$38 | $1,060 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.1%±13.1 pts | 34.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,260±$182 | $1,689 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.8%±4.3 pts | 67.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,491±16 | 1,293,635 | −271 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±1.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.8%±6.2 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.0%±4.0 pts | 71.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 10.8%±3.2 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.4%±1.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 38.4%±5.4 pts | 15.4% | – |
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 County get to work?
72.8% of Elk County's workers drive alone and 10.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.7 minutes.
| Measure | Elk County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.6%±3.1 pts | 66.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.0%±1.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 72.8%±5.9 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.1%±3.3 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±3.0 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 5.2%±3.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.2%±3.9 pts | 11.8% | +8.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 33.7 min±5.8 | 19.7 min | no clear change |
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 are Elk County's census tracts?
Elk County is a single census tract.
| Tract 965120049965100 | 2,453 | $64,609 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Elk County compare with Kansas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 94th of 105 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 43rd of 105 |
| Residents per square mile | 82nd of 105 |
| Median household income | 50th of 105 |
| Median home value | 102nd of 105 |
| Median gross rent | 103rd of 104 |
| Poverty rate | 58th of 102 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77th of 105 |
| Median age | 6th of 105 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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.