Is Elk Park, NC a Good Place to Live?
Elk Park is a small town of 511 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $45,455 and a 7.3% unemployment rate.
Strengths: Elk Park stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Elk Park is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Elk Park city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Elk Park metro area.
| Metric | Elk Park, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $139,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | N/A | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $45,455 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeElk Park's violent crime rate is 102.5 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Elk Park is served primarily by Avery County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Elk Park, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Avery County Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.7% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 90.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Elk Park sees average highs of 40.3°F in January and 76.9°F in July, with 53.8 inches of annual precipitation and 31.4 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Elk Park, NC |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 40.3°F |
| Average High — July | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.4" |
Demographics
| Metric | Elk Park, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 511 | — |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 21.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 93.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.6% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4.5% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.6% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 15.9% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Elk Park
Elk Park, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: