The Town FilesElkins, Arkansas
City in Washington County · population 3,602 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,500
- Household income
- $81,789
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 33.8
Elkins is a city of 3,602 people in Washington County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $212,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 97% of Arkansas towns, more upscale than 86% of Arkansas towns.
How Elkins ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elkins is worth $212,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $81,789, which is more affordable than 56% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,431 a month. 85.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elkins | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,431 | $792 |
| Median household income | $81,789 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 85.3% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elkins
| People | Elkins | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Elkins
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkins since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 30, 1954 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 4, 2020.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 120,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,680 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Elkins itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Elkins
4 public schools with 1,441 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 435 | 9.1 |
| ELKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 367 | 15.3 |
| ELKINS PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 340 | 16.2 |
| ELKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 299 | 18.7 |
Towns near Elkins
- Fayetteville, AR8.8 mi · 93,949 people · home $349,600
- Johnson, AR11.7 mi · 3,609 people · home $312,900
- Farmington, AR12.9 mi · 7,584 people · home $304,800
- Springdale, AR14.1 mi · 84,161 people · home $261,800
- Prairie Grove, AR15.8 mi · 7,045 people · home $256,000
- Tontitown, AR16.0 mi · 4,301 people · home $430,500
- Huntsville, AR17.2 mi · 2,879 people · home $163,600
- Lowell, AR18.0 mi · 9,839 people · home $284,200
Elkins questions
Is Elkins, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elkins scores better for retirees than 25% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 37%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Elkins?
The median owner-occupied home in Elkins is valued at $212,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,789, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,431 a month.
What is the weather like in Elkins?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Elkins get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkins since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 30, 1954. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)