The Town FilesElk City, Oklahoma
City in Beckham County · population 11,561 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,400
- Household income
- $51,272
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 36.4
Elk City is a city of 11,561 people in Beckham County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $150,400, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better transit than 97% of Oklahoma towns, more vibrant than 80% of Oklahoma towns.
How Elk City ranks
Percentile among Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elk City is worth $150,400, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $51,272, which is more affordable than 24% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $943 a month. 64.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elk City | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,400 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $943 | $830 |
| Median household income | $51,272 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 64.3% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Elk City
| People | Elk City | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.8% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 86.0% |
Weather in Elk City
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 29.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.6 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk City since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 16, 1977 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 117 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 16, 2017.
Severe weather in Beckham County since 1996
Beckham County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2026 | Fire | FM-5624: 1170 Road Fire |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Beckham County
Beckham County had 9,947 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,143 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Elk City itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Elk City
6 public schools with 2,916 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELK CITY ES | PK-3 | 738 | 16.0 |
| MERRITT ES | PK-8 | 634 | 16.7 |
| ELK CITY HS | 9-12 | 610 | 17.9 |
| ELK CITY IES | 4-6 | 443 | 16.4 |
| ELK CITY MS | 7-8 | 305 | 14.5 |
| MERRITT HS | 9-12 | 186 | 20.7 |
Towns near Elk City
- Sayre, OK13.0 mi · 4,809 people · home $77,400
- New Cordell, OK25.9 mi · 2,775 people · home $106,600
- Clinton, OK27.0 mi · 8,521 people · home $119,400
Elk City questions
Is Elk City, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elk City scores better for retirees than 40% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 26%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Elk City?
The median owner-occupied home in Elk City is valued at $150,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,272, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Elk City?
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.5 inches of precipitation a year and 8.6 inches of snow.
Does Elk City get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 16, 1977. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.
- 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)