What are the schools like in Elko, NV?

Elko is served primarily by Elko. The district operates 17 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 8 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.5:1.

What is the median household income in Elko?

The median household income in Elko, NV is $85,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Elko, NV?

Elko has an average high temperature of 37.9°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 10.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Elko, NV affordable or expensive?

Elko's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elko is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $275,600 and the median rent is $1,142 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Elko, NV?

Elko has a violent crime rate of 397.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1438.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elko, NV a Good Place to Live?

Elko is a small city of 20,513 in Nevada, with a median household income of $85,000 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Elko stands out for lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

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

All Elko 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: 98.8

Elko's overall cost of living index is 98.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elko costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elko, NV	National Avg
Median Home Value	$275,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,142	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$85,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Elko's violent crime rate is 397.9 per 100,000 residents — 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

397.9 /100k

Property Crime

1438.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elko is served primarily by Elko. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elko, NV	National Avg
School District	Elko	—
Elementary Schools	17	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	8	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elko sees average highs of 37.9°F in January and 91.8°F in July, with 10.0 inches of annual precipitation and 41.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elko, NV
Average High — January	37.9°F
Average High — July	91.8°F
Annual Precipitation	10.0"
Annual Snowfall	41.2"

Demographics

Metric	Elko, NV	National Avg
Population	20,513	—
Median Age	33.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	18.5%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	23.6%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Osino, NV 9 mi Spring Creek, NV 11 mi Lamoille, NV 17 mi Carlin, NV 20 mi Wells, NV 47 mi

ZIP Codes in Elko

Elko, NV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

89801

Elko vs Other Cities

Elko, NV vs Osino, NV Elko, NV vs Spring Creek, NV Elko, NV vs Lamoille, NV Elko, NV vs Carlin, NV Elko, NV vs Wells, NV

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elko, NV affordable or expensive?

Elko's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elko roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $275,600 and median rent is $1,142/month.

What is the crime rate in Elko, NV?

Elko's violent crime rate is 397.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1438.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elko?

Public schools in Elko are operated by Elko. The district has 17 elementary, 8 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.5:1. 18.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elko, NV a good place to live?

Elko, NV has a population of 20,513, a median household income of $85,000, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 Elko?

Elko averages 37.9°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.0 inches with about 41.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elko?

Elko, NV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 89801.

What is the population of Elko?

The population of Elko, Nevada is 20,513 with a median age of 33.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elko?

Key numbers for living in Elko: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $275,600, median household income $85,000, crime index 90 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elko side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.