Elk County, KS Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Elk County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,498 | 2,919,756 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 3.8 | 35.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.95% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 48.3 | 38.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,076 | 1,159,797 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Elk County declined by 18.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 2,464 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Elk County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Elk County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,865 | $72,682 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.07% | 4.34% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Elk County is about 22% lower than in Kansas.
Housing
| Metric | Elk County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $21,607 | $104,507 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $533 | $1,029 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.6% | 66.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Elk County is about 3.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $533 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Elk County spend about 47 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 194 hours, about 8.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Elk County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 23.3 | 17.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 46.6 | 34.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 194 | 144 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,016 | $4,466 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 10.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,188 | 4,500 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 149 | 662 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kansas:
Greeley County (7.1 min), Cheyenne County (7.2 min), Graham County (7.4 min).
Slowest:
Miami County (30.5 min), Jefferson County (28.2 min), Osage County (28.0 min).
The average commute time in Elk County is 23 minutes, longer than the 17 minutes in Kansas.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Elk County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Elk County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 31.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.28 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kansas:
Johnson County (0.4), Douglas County (0.4), Riley County (0.3).
Lowest:
Seward County (0.2), Grant County (0.2), Kearny County (0.2).
Health
Elk County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Elk County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.5 | 78.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 19.4% | 15.3% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 21.6% | 18.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kansas:
Johnson County (0.8), Riley County (0.8), Douglas County (0.8).
Lowest:
Wyandotte County (0.8), Woodson County (0.8), Chautauqua County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Elk County, Kansas.
What is the population of Elk County, Kansas?
The population of Elk County, Kansas is 2,498, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Elk County, Kansas?
The population density of Elk County, Kansas is 3.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Elk County, Kansas?
The median household income in Elk County, Kansas is $56,865, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Elk County, Kansas?
The median home price in Elk County, Kansas is $21,607, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Elk County, Kansas?
The unemployment rate in Elk County, Kansas is 3.5%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.