The Town FilesElkhorn City, Kentucky
City in Pike County · population 1,035 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,700
- Household income
- $44,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 53.3
Elkhorn City is a city of 1,035 people in Pike County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $116,700, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 88% of Kentucky towns.
How Elkhorn City ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elkhorn City is worth $116,700, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $44,000, which is more affordable than 68% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $605 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elkhorn City | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,700 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $605 | $837 |
| Median household income | $44,000 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elkhorn City
| People | Elkhorn City | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 8.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.9% | 88.6% |
Weather in Elkhorn City
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.7 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elkhorn City since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an F1, struck on April 4, 1974 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 4, 1974.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on April 28, 2014.
Severe weather in Pike County since 1996
Pike County has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| July 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4663: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Pike County
Pike County had 20,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,529 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Elkhorn City itself the ACS puts it at 17.6%.
Public schools in Elkhorn City
2 public schools with 843 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhorn City Elementary School | PK-8 | 424 | 14.6 |
| East Ridge High School | 9-12 | 419 | 15.0 |
Towns near Elkhorn City
- Clintwood, VA13.0 mi · 1,377 people · home $162,800
- Pikeville, KY14.5 mi · 7,754 people · home $263,800
- Grundy, VA14.6 mi · 875 people · home $203,600
- Phelps, KY16.8 mi · 760 people · home $102,700
- Coal Run Village, KY18.4 mi · 1,669 people · home $132,400
- McRoberts, KY18.7 mi · 741 people · home $60,100
- Jenkins, KY19.3 mi · 1,902 people · home $80,200
- Pound, VA19.4 mi · 877 people · home $98,100
Elkhorn City questions
Is Elkhorn City, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elkhorn City scores better for retirees than 92% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 88%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.3).
How much does a house cost in Elkhorn City?
The median owner-occupied home in Elkhorn City is valued at $116,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,000, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $605 a month.
What is the weather like in Elkhorn City?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 7.7 inches of snow.
Does Elkhorn City get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elkhorn City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on April 4, 1974. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)