The Town FilesElk, Pennsylvania
Township in Chester County · population 1,698 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $408,600
- Household income
- $114,856
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 43.1
Elk is a township of 1,698 people in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $408,600, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Elk ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elk is worth $408,600, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $114,856, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $792 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elk | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $408,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $792 | $996 |
| Median household income | $114,856 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elk
| People | Elk | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Elk
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 1, 2021 about 4.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Chester County since 1996
Chester County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Chester County
Chester County had 251,284 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $87,886 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Elk itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Elk
- New London, PA2.6 mi · 5,810 people · home $483,400
- East Nottingham, PA3.7 mi · 8,982 people · home $412,500
- Franklin, PA4.5 mi · 4,433 people · home $489,100
- Lincoln University, PA4.9 mi · 1,739 people · home —
- Oxford, PA5.2 mi · 5,736 people · home $313,800
- London Britain, PA6.1 mi · 3,179 people · home $554,600
- Penn, PA6.1 mi · 5,644 people · home $498,600
- Lower Oxford, PA6.3 mi · 5,420 people · home $372,800
Elk questions
Is Elk, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elk scores better for retirees than 47% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 44%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Elk?
The median owner-occupied home in Elk is valued at $408,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,856, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $792 a month.
What is the weather like in Elk?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year and 18.1 inches of snow.
Does Elk get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 1, 2021. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)