Coronado-Remington · Frederic Remington / Public domainElk, oklahoma 11 · Gorup de Besanez / CC BY-SA 4.0Elk City Old Town Museum (NBY 433753) · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainFawns (6088543375) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / Public domain
Elk City is a small city of 11,494 in Oklahoma, with a median household income of $47,903
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Elk City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 91.4
Elk City's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Elk City costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Elk City, OK
National Avg
Median Home Value
$161,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$835
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,903
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Elk City's violent crime rate is 223.2 per 100,000 residents
— 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
223.2 /100k
Property Crime
1035.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Elk City is served primarily by ELK CITY.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Elk City, OK
National Avg
School District
ELK CITY
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Elk City sees average highs of 50.4°F in January
and 94.7°F in July,
with 29.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 8.6 inches of snow per year.
Elk City's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Elk City roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $161,500 and median rent is $835/month.
Elk City's violent crime rate is 223.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1035.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Elk City are operated by ELK CITY.
The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 18.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Elk City, OK has a population of 11,494, a median household income of $47,903, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
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 50.4°F in January and 94.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.5 inches
with about 8.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Elk City, OK is covered by 1 ZIP code: 73644.
The population of Elk City, Oklahoma is 11,494 with a median age of 33.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Elk City: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $161,500, median household income $47,903, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.
.jpg)
.jpg)