Elk City is a small town of 289 in Kansas, with a median household income of $31,250
and a 7.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 81 (US average = 100), which is
19% below the national average.
Strengths:
Elk City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Elk City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Elk City 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: 80.6
Elk City's overall cost of living index is 80.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Elk City costs roughly 19% less than the average American city.
Metric
Elk City, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$22,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$836
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$31,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Elk City's violent crime rate is 392.7 per 100,000 residents
— 3% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
392.7 /100k
Property Crime
2101.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Elk City, KS
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
4.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Elk City sees average highs of 44.9°F in January
and 90.7°F in July,
with 40.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 9.5 inches of snow per year.
Elk City's cost of living index is 81, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Elk City roughly 19% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $22,900 and median rent is $836/month.
Elk City's violent crime rate is 392.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2101.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Elk City, KS has a population of 289, a median household income of $31,250, and an unemployment rate of 7.6%.
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.
Elk City averages 44.9°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.7 inches
with about 9.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Elk City, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 67344.
The population of Elk City, Kansas is 289 with a median age of 45.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Elk City: cost of living index 81 (100 = US average), median home $22,900, median household income $31,250, crime index 102 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elk City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.