Population
2,458
2025
−0.9% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Elk County, KS: population growth, jobs and income
Elk County gained 8 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.3%).
Elk County had an estimated 2,458 residents in 2025, down 0.9% (22 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Kansas as a whole (+1.3%), and the 43rd fastest growth of 105 counties in Kansas.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Elk County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Elk County, ranked against Kansas and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$552/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes33.0%2020–24
- Rent growth, 5 years+14.3%2016-2020 to 2020-2024
- New homes permitted, last 12 monthsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+25
2025
10.2 per 1,000 residents
+79 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
2025
−0.1 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
Median household income
$64,609
2020–24
+51.8% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
306
2023
−2.5% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 25 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 306 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.5% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.4% in 2025, 0.1 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Median household income was $64,609 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +51.8% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,156th.
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Elk County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,458 | +8 |
| 2024 | 2,450 | −36 |
| 2023 | 2,486 | +31 |
| 2022 | 2,455 | +16 |
| 2021 | 2,439 | −41 |
| 2020 | 2,480 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Elk County
Elk County lost 22 people since 2020 even though 79 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 103, and net international migration was about zero.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −16 | −103 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +0 | +0 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +25 | +79 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −1 | +2 | |
| Total change | +8 | −22 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Kansas | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 43rd of 105 | 2,156th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 10th of 105 | 519th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 60th of 105 | 2,208th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 50th of 105 | 1,640th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 95th of 105 | 2,002nd of 3,108 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Elk County, KS as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Butler County and Cowley County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Elk County's population change (−0.9%) was ahead of 4 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (Cowley County and Butler County).
Only Butler County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 6 neighbouring counties; Elk County's was $64,609.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk County, KS This county | 2,458 | −0.9% | 10.2 | – | $64,609 |
| Chautauqua County, KS | 3,321 | −1.9% | −10.5 | 0.3 | $56,438 |
| Greenwood County, KS | 5,826 | −2.3% | 2.1 | 0.2 | $60,042 |
| Wilson County, KS | 8,299 | −3.3% | 10.0 | 1.9 | $60,677 |
| Montgomery County, KS | 30,177 | −3.9% | −3.2 | 0.9 | $55,697 |
| Cowley County, KS | 34,382 | −0.4% | 3.5 | 1.0 | $57,878 |
| Butler County, KS | 69,484 | +3.1% | 2.0 | 3.1 | $81,610 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Elk County growing?
No. Its population fell 0.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 22 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Kansas as a whole changed +1.3% over the same years. That ranks 43rd of 105 counties in Kansas for population growth.
How many people moved to Elk County?
On net, about 25 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Elk County?
It averaged 4.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Elk County?
About 2,458 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Elk County?
Private employers there had 306 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.5% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Kansas
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Kansas county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Elk County data alerts
Email me when Elk County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.