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Living in
Elk City.
About
Life in Elk City
Elk City is a community of 11,406 people in Oklahoma. The median household income is $51,272, median rent runs about $950 per month, and median home values are around $150,400. Unemployment is low at 3.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Elk City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.8%
Foreign-Born
6.2%
Broadband Internet
87.2%
of households
Population Growth
-2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Elk City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Elk City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (62.3%), and 9.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.1%
of residents
65 and Older
18.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
44.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below OK average
Rent, home values, and income in Elk City
In Elk City, rent runs 7% below the OK average, and home values are 25% below the OK average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,357
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
20.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $168,510 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OK
Unemployment in Elk City
Unemployment in Beckham County, which includes Elk City, is close to the OK average.
Unemployment rate
Elk City: Beckham County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Beckham County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Elk City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14 min avg
How Elk City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Elk City, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Safetyviolent crime 55% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Elk City runs 55% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
149.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
978.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Elk City Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
57.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Beckham County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Beckham County, which includes Elk City, the most common type is drought, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | Heat | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 30 | Drought | $140,000 |
| 2022 | 24 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 14 | Drought | None reported |
| 2020 | 17 | Drought | $500 |
| 2019 | 18 | Hail | $17,000 |
| 2018 | 23 | Drought | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
16 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Beckham County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kiowa County, OK (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 41 miles from Elk City) is typically good — 216 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
216
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Kiowa County, OK (41 mi away)
Climate93°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Elk City has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
29.5"
Annual Snowfall
8.6"
Hot Days/Year
78
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
84
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
75
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 26°F | 0.88" |
| Feb | 55°F | 29°F | 1.00" |
| Mar | 64°F | 37°F | 2.10" |
| Apr | 72°F | 46°F | 2.74" |
| May | 81°F | 56°F | 4.45" |
| Jun | 89°F | 65°F | 3.77" |
| Jul | 95°F | 70°F | 2.48" |
| Aug | 94°F | 68°F | 3.70" |
| Sep | 85°F | 61°F | 2.80" |
| Oct | 74°F | 48°F | 2.90" |
| Nov | 61°F | 37°F | 1.42" |
| Dec | 51°F | 29°F | 1.28" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Elk City
Elk City has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Great Plains Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Elk City
Elk City's student/teacher ratio is 16.4:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Elk City
Elk City has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayPublic Libraries in Elk City
Elk City Carnegie Library
221 West Broadway Ave, Elk City
Cities Near Elk City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Elk City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Elk City FAQ
Is Elk City, Oklahoma affordable?⌄
Elk City's median rent is $943/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,272/year. Median home value is $150,400.
Is Elk City, Oklahoma safe?⌄
Elk City's violent crime rate was 150 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 978 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Elk City, Oklahoma?⌄
Beckham County, which includes Elk City, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Elk City, Oklahoma?⌄
The cost of living in Elk City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $943/month and median household income is $51,272/year. The median home value is $150,400. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Elk City, Oklahoma?⌄
The average commute in Elk City is 14 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from