Cost of Living in Elk County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Elk County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Elk County ranks #471 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 15%)
Sourced county brief
Elk County Median Monthly Owner Costs Estimated at $652
The median selected monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied housing units in Elk County was $652, according to 2020-2024 ACS estimates. This figure is $358 below the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $1,010. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for the county was 27.9%, which is 0.2 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 27.7%. Median gross rent was recorded at $719 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $991. The median home value in the county was estimated at $133,600, while the state unweighted county mean was $212,079. Renter households in Elk County had a median income of $29,602. The canonical rent-to-income percentage of 27.9% is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate for this period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Elk County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.9% of renter household income in Elk County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $719 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $652. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $28,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Elk County's $719 median is 27.4% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Elk County
Rent Burden
13.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,549
per month
Owner Cost Burden
11.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Elk County
Median home value is $133,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,067 vs. your max of $1,549.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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