Elk County, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Elk County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Elk County Around averageWealthier than 73% of counties in Pennsylvania
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Elk County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,302 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,351 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.4% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Elk County is about 17% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing slower in Elk County (3.9%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Elk County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Elk County, Pennsylvania grew by 51.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,302 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Elk County
| Metric | Elk County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.474 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,642 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,878 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 30.4% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Elk County, it is 0.474, lower than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 44% more than women's income in Elk County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 44% wage gap accumulates to roughly $656,740 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Elk County, Pennsylvania has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 30%. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,237 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Elk County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.1% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 873 people are unemployed in Elk County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Elk County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Elk County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 6.5% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.8% in 2018.
Elk County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Elk County, PA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 30,506 residents against a local median of 39,894. Where Elk County, PA breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 18% below the local median of 4.7%/yr at 3.9%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 5.6% against a local median of 4.9%, 16% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Elk County, PA reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 1.9%/yr on income growth, so Elk County, PA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Elk County, PA has the 4th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk County, PA | 30,506 | $65,302 #1/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 5.6% #4/6 | 0.474 #2/6 |
| McKean County, PA | 39,894 | $63,476 | 4.7%/yr | 4.9% | 0.522 |
| Cameron County, PA | 4,427 | $50,531 | 2.9%/yr | 7.8% | 0.458 |
| Jefferson County, PA | 43,864 | $58,953 | 3.7%/yr | 4.2% | 0.506 |
| Clearfield County, PA | 78,582 | $63,193 | 4.8%/yr | 5.9% | 0.529 |
| Forest County, PA | 6,715 | $53,381 | 4.9%/yr | 2.5% | 0.635 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Elk County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Pennsylvania, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Elk County, Pennsylvania.
How Wealthy Is Elk County, Pennsylvania?
Elk County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $65,302, about 17% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
How fast is household income rising in Elk County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Elk County, Pennsylvania rose 51%, from $43,144 to $65,302. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Pennsylvania as a whole: +51% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Elk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Elk County, Pennsylvania was $64,621, up 5% from $61,497 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Elk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Elk County, Pennsylvania was $55,401. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $65,302.
What is the Gini coefficient in Elk County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Elk County is 0.474. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Elk County, Pennsylvania?
The income gap between men and women in Elk County, Pennsylvania has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 30%. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,237 since 2009.
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