The Town FilesElkins, West Virginia
City in Randolph County · population 6,934 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,700
- Household income
- $44,217
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.5
Elkins is a city of 6,934 people in Randolph County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $152,700, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of West Virginia towns, hipper than 95% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 94% of West Virginia towns.
How Elkins ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elkins is worth $152,700, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $44,217, which is more affordable than 15% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $903 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elkins | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,700 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $903 | $811 |
| Median household income | $44,217 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elkins
| People | Elkins | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 11.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Elkins
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.9 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkins since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 9, 1980 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 1980.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 23, 1999.
Severe weather in Randolph County since 1996
Randolph County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Flood | DR-4932: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2019 | Flood | DR-4455: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Randolph County
Randolph County had 10,467 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,695 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Elkins itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Elkins
8 public schools with 2,250 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkins High School | 9-12 | 740 | 16.8 |
| Elkins Middle School | 6-8 | 600 | 15.8 |
| Elkins Third Ward Elementary School | PK-5 | 299 | 14.2 |
| Jennings Randolph Elementary School | PK-5 | 229 | 12.1 |
| North Elementary School | PK-5 | 189 | 12.6 |
| Midland Elementary School | PK-5 | 168 | 12.0 |
| Randolph County Alternative Center | 6-12 | 25 | 25.0 |
| Randolph Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Elkins
- Philippi, WV18.7 mi · 2,929 people · home $114,500
- Buckhannon, WV20.7 mi · 5,186 people · home $158,100
Elkins questions
Is Elkins, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elkins scores better for retirees than 41% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 10%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Elkins?
The median owner-occupied home in Elkins is valued at $152,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,217, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $903 a month.
What is the weather like in Elkins?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 68.9 inches of snow.
Does Elkins get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkins since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 9, 1980. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)