County · Pennsylvania

Elk County, Pennsylvania

Elk County, Pennsylvania. Elk County had 29,926 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.4% since 2020, while Pennsylvania grew 0.4%. It holds 18 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs, 9 towns and townships and 6 census-designated) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 42047.

Elk County is the county of the St. Marys, PA micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

29,926

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 30,990 · ACS 2020-2024: 30,506

Median household income

$66,380

±$3,352 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971

Median home value

$133,600

±$7,119 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500

Median gross rent

$719

±$66 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209

How many people live in Elk County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 30,990 residents in Elk County. The Census Bureau estimates 29,926 for July 1, 2025, down 3.4% since 2020, while Pennsylvania grew 0.4%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 30,506 over 827 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −144 (30,796)
2021→2022 −349 (30,447)
2022→2023 −246 (30,201)
2023→2024 −134 (30,067)
2024→2025 −141 (29,926)

Elk County in Pennsylvania. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Elk County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	30,506	13,018,639	+166
Households	13,325±316	5,274,853	−695
Average household size	2.27±0.05	2.39	+0.14
Housing units	16,880±32	5,806,452	−910

Elk County's population since 2000

From 35,112 in 2000 to 29,926 in 2025: down 14.8%. 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.

2000 Census 35,112
2005 (estimate) 33,385
2010 Census 31,946
2015 (estimate) 30,898
2020 Census 30,990
2025 (estimate) 29,926

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 18 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is St. Marys with 12,253 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Elk County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

St. Marys	city	12,738	12,529±18	$67,167	$149,000	7.8%	100%
Ridgway	borough	4,039	3,969±17	$52,863	$94,900	13.0%	100%
Fox Township, Elk County	township	3,576	3,541±13	$74,934	$170,800	6.0%	100%
Ridgway Township	township	2,416	2,359±265	$76,691	$170,400	6.5%	100%
Johnsonburg	borough	2,404	2,424±279	$61,484	$62,200	12.3%	100%
Jay Township	township	1,963	2,039±202	$67,036	$90,500	7.2%	100%
Jones Township	township	1,573	1,430±162	$67,500	$132,600	10.8%	100%
Horton Township	township	1,366	1,458±260	$54,000	$132,900	7.4%	100%
KerseyGEOID 4239512	CDP	797	743±295	$53,531	$227,600	21.1%	100%
Weedville	CDP	565	523±133	$62,054	$170,000	10.5%	100%
Highland Township, Elk County	township	403	339±71	$65,188	$75,000	14.2%	100%
ByrnedaleGEOID 4210600	CDP	382	434±176	$90,568	$76,800	1.4%	100%
WilcoxGEOID 4285088	CDP	354	323±121	$57,500	$61,800	18.6%	100%
Benezette TownshipGEOID 4204705576	township	216	127±40	$47,917	$182,700	8.7%	100%
ForceGEOID 4226504	CDP	213	226±106	$31,071	$54,500	7.5%	100%
James CityGEOID 4237656	CDP	207	174±55	$65,789	$55,800	12.6%	100%
Spring Creek Township, Elk County	township	201	191±52	$55,781	$101,700	7.3%	100%
Millstone TownshipGEOID 4204749888	township	95	100±42	$55,625	$228,600	8.0%	100%

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 48.4 years old; 19.0% are under 18 and 24.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.4%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Elk County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	48.4±0.4	40.9	+1.0
Under 18 years	19.0%±0.1 pts	20.4%	–
65 years and over	24.1%±0.2 pts	19.5%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.0%	8.7%	+0.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	94.5%±1.0 pts	73.0%	−2.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.3 pts	10.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	3.8%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.4%±1.1 pts	3.6%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.1%±0.4 pts	7.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	1.6%±0.5 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.5%±1.0 pts	6.1%	–
With a disability	16.6%±1.9 pts	14.4%	–
No health insurance coverage	2.3%±0.7 pts	5.6%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.3%±0.9 pts	92.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	20.6%±2.0 pts	35.2%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.7%±1.3 pts	14.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.6%±0.5 pts	1.9%	–

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 County earn?

Half of Elk County's 13,325 households earn less than $66,380 a year (±$3,352), against $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $65,768 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Elk County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$66,380±$3,352	$77,971	no clear change
Mean household income	$81,773±$4,400	$107,538	–
Per capita income	$36,391±$1,650	$44,355	no clear change
People below the poverty line	8.7%±1.4 pts	11.7%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	12.3%±4.3 pts	15.6%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	14.5%±2.4 pts	14.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.7%±2.1 pts	89.7%	–

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 79.5% of Elk County's occupied homes and renters 20.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $133,600 by its owner (±$7,119). The median renter pays $719 a month including utilities, and 38.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Elk County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$133,600±$7,119	$254,500	no clear change
Median gross rent	$719±$66	$1,209	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	38.0%±7.9 pts	39.5%	+10.8 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,139±$46	$1,762	–
Owner-occupied homes	79.5%±2.0 pts	69.3%	no clear change
Housing units	16,880±32	5,806,452	−910
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.9%±0.7 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	6.3%±4.0 pts	4.9%	–
Single-family detached homes	81.0%±1.9 pts	56.6%	–
Mobile homes	6.5%±1.1 pts	3.5%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.8%±0.5 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	23.6%±2.4 pts	25.0%	–

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 many new homes is Elk County building?

Builders took permits for 23 new housing units across Elk County in 2025 (21 single-family), 0.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 27 units
2020 22 units
2021 21 units
2022 36 units
2023 35 units
2024 48 units
2025 23 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Elk County get to work?

84.8% of Elk County's workers drive alone and 3.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Elk County	Pennsylvania	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	60.6%±1.2 pts	62.7%	–
Unemployment rate	5.7%±1.7 pts	5.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	84.8%±2.2 pts	68.2%	–
Carpooled	8.0%±1.8 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.4%±0.3 pts	3.6%	–
Walked	1.6%±0.8 pts	3.3%	–
Worked from home	3.1%±1.1 pts	15.6%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	18.3 min±1.0	26.3 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 divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $52,863 (Tract 9504) to $72,006 (Tract 9513).

Census tracts of Elk County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 950142047950100	Wilcox (11%)	1,573	1,430±162	$67,500	$132,600	$648	10.8%
Tract 950242047950200	James City (2%)	3,115	2,989±270	$71,926	$161,800	$675	7.5%
Tract 950442047950400	Ridgway	4,039	3,969±17	$52,863	$94,900	$744	13.0%
Tract 950542047950500	Johnsonburg	2,404	2,424±279	$61,484	$62,200	$578	12.3%
Tract 950942047950900	Weedville (11%)	2,179	2,166±207	$66,250	$94,600	$675	7.3%
Tract 951042047951000	Kersey (5%)	4,942	4,999±258	$69,696	$161,000	$711	6.4%
Tract 951142047951100	St. Marys	5,553	5,387±339	$64,318	$155,600	$684	10.8%
Tract 951242047951200	St. Marys	2,005	2,012±226	$66,250	$152,400	$798	8.5%
Tract 951342047951300	St. Marys	5,180	5,130±357	$72,006	$146,200	$834	4.6%

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 Pennsylvania's other counties?

Elk County's rank among Pennsylvania's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	59th of 67
Growth 2020-2025	61st of 67
Residents per square mile	61st of 67
Median household income	33rd of 67
Median home value	61st of 67
Median gross rent	66th of 67
Poverty rate	57th of 67
Bachelor's degree or higher	45th of 67
Median age	7th of 67

Every county in Pennsylvania

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.