The Town FilesElko, Nevada
City in Elko County · population 20,564 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,100
- Household income
- $79,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 33.2
Elko is a city of 20,564 people in Elko County, Nevada. The median home is worth $309,100, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks better transit than 95% of Nevada towns, more vibrant than 76% of Nevada towns, more walkable than 73% of Nevada towns.
How Elko ranks
Percentile among Nevada towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nevada towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elko is worth $309,100, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $79,036, which is more affordable than 75% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $1,267 a month. 62.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elko | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,100 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $1,267 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $79,036 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 62.6% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Elko
| People | Elko | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 92.1% |
Weather in Elko
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 10.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.2 inches of snow (typical Nevada town: 16.7 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elko since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Nevada town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 21, 2014 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 24, 2023.
Severe weather in Elko County since 1996
Elko County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4523: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3443: Covid-19 |
| July 17, 2017 | Fire | FM-5191: Oil Well Fire |
| March 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4307: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| October 3, 2011 | Fire | FM-2972: Indian Creek Fire |
Jobs and pay in Elko County
Elko County had 22,205 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,165 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Elko itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Elko
12 public schools with 4,978 students, about 21.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elko High School | 7-12 | 1,433 | 23.1 |
| Flagview Intermediate School | 5-6 | 686 | 22.9 |
| Adobe Middle School | 7-8 | 681 | 21.3 |
| Mountain View Elementary School | K-4 | 555 | 22.2 |
| Southside Elementary School | PK-4 | 553 | 22.1 |
| Northside Elementary School | PK-4 | 354 | 17.7 |
| Grammar School 2 | PK-4 | 334 | 20.9 |
| Elko Institute for Academic Achievement (charter) | K-8 | 309 | 22.1 |
| Independence High School | 6-12 | 46 | 5.8 |
| Adult Education | 15-15 | 20 | 20.0 |
| Early Childhood | PK-PK | 7 | — |
| Early Childhood GBC | PK-K | — | — |
Towns near Elko
- Spring Creek, NV11.0 mi · 14,967 people · home $360,600
Elko questions
Is Elko, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elko scores better for retirees than 19% of Nevada towns and quieter than 24%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Elko?
The median owner-occupied home in Elko is valued at $309,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,036, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,267 a month.
What is the weather like in Elko?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.0 inches of precipitation a year and 41.2 inches of snow.
Does Elko get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elko since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 21, 2014. The typical Nevada town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)