The Town Files

Elk County, Kansas

2,453 people. The median home is worth $68,500 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $64,609.

Towns in Elk County

Towns in Elk County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Howard570$52,600$65,62545.5

People and housing

Elk CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$68,500$128,200
Median rent$552$815
Median household income$64,609$63,857
Median age48.838.5
Bachelor's degree or higher21.5%24.0%
Below the poverty line10.4%10.6%

Jobs and pay

619 jobs in 2024, average pay $35,644 a year.

Largest industries in Elk CountyHotels & restaurants99 jobs · $30,720Retail43 jobs · $23,308Mining, oil & gas17 jobs · $58,497Agriculture, forestry & fishi…16 jobs · $45,739
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Elk County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 2.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 403 storm events in Elk County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Elk County by type since 1996Hail138Heat8Flood13Drought46Tornado13Heavy Rain26Heavy Snow12Flash Flood24Winter Storm19Excessive Heat6
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Elk County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 21, 2025Severe StormDR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires
July 15, 2024Severe StormDR-4800: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3481: Covid-19
June 20, 2019Severe StormDR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides
May 28, 2019Severe StormEM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).