What are the schools like in Elkins, AR?

Elkins is served primarily by ELKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Elkins?

The median household income in Elkins, AR is $72,940 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in Elkins, AR?

Elkins has an average high temperature of 47.7°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.5 inches.

Elkins, AR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Elkins, AR affordable or expensive?

Elkins's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elkins is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $173,600 and the median rent is $1,208 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Elkins, AR?

Elkins has a violent crime rate of 326.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 804.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elkins, AR a Good Place to Live?

Elkins is a small town of 3,635 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $72,940 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Elkins stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Elkins is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Elkins city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.0

Elkins's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elkins costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elkins, AR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$173,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,208	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$72,940	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Elkins's violent crime rate is 326.9 per 100,000 residents — 14% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

326.9 /100k

Property Crime

804.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Elkins is served primarily by ELKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elkins, AR	National Avg
School District	ELKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elkins sees average highs of 47.7°F in January and 89.2°F in July, with 48.6 inches of annual precipitation and 6.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elkins, AR
Average High — January	47.7°F
Average High — July	89.2°F
Annual Precipitation	48.6"
Annual Snowfall	6.5"

Demographics

Metric	Elkins, AR	National Avg
Population	3,635	—
Median Age	34.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	14.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wesley, AR 6 mi Goshen, AR 6 mi Fayetteville, AR 9 mi Greenland, AR 9 mi West Fork, AR 10 mi

Elkins vs Other Cities

Elkins, AR vs Wesley, AR Elkins, AR vs Goshen, AR Elkins, AR vs Fayetteville, AR Elkins, AR vs Greenland, AR Elkins, AR vs West Fork, AR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elkins, AR affordable or expensive?

Elkins's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elkins roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $173,600 and median rent is $1,208/month.

What is the crime rate in Elkins, AR?

Elkins's violent crime rate is 326.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 804.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elkins?

Public schools in Elkins are operated by ELKINS SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elkins, AR a good place to live?

Elkins, AR has a population of 3,635, a median household income of $72,940, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Elkins?

Elkins averages 47.7°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.6 inches with about 6.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Elkins?

The population of Elkins, Arkansas is 3,635 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elkins?

Key numbers for living in Elkins: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $173,600, median household income $72,940, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elkins side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.