The Town FilesElkin, North Carolina
Town in Surry County · population 4,122 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $226,900
- Household income
- $60,740
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 41.6
Elkin is a town of 4,122 people in Surry County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $226,900, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks hipper than 96% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 90% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 88% of North Carolina towns.
How Elkin ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elkin is worth $226,900, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $60,740, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $807 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elkin | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $807 | $969 |
| Median household income | $60,740 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Elkin
| People | Elkin | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Elkin
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkin since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 26, 2024 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 20, 1986.
Severe weather in Surry County since 1996
Surry County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Surry County
Surry County had 29,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,330 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Elkin itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Elkin
6 public schools with 1,603 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkin Elementary | PK-6 | 631 | 15.4 |
| Elkin High | 9-12 | 384 | 13.2 |
| C B Eller Elementary School | PK-5 | 272 | 18.1 |
| Elkin Middle | 7-8 | 176 | 12.6 |
| Appalachian State Univ Academy at Elkin | 2-4 | 78 | 39.0 |
| Global E-Learning Academy | 6-12 | 62 | 15.5 |
Towns near Elkin
- Yadkinville, NC13.9 mi · 2,995 people · home $183,800
- North Wilkesboro, NC17.4 mi · 4,382 people · home $212,700
- Wilkesboro, NC20.2 mi · 3,687 people · home $223,700
- Mount Airy, NC21.3 mi · 10,676 people · home $181,900
- Lewisville, NC26.0 mi · 13,381 people · home $325,400
- King, NC27.3 mi · 7,197 people · home $238,200
- Tobaccoville, NC27.3 mi · 2,578 people · home $234,200
- Galax, VA28.0 mi · 6,720 people · home $141,300
Elkin questions
Is Elkin, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elkin scores better for retirees than 62% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 67%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Elkin?
The median owner-occupied home in Elkin is valued at $226,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,740, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $807 a month.
What is the weather like in Elkin?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Elkin get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 26, 2024. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)