Median Age
45 Years
Largest Age Group
50-59 Years
Approximately 13% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
25%
Area Guide
Resting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Yadkin River, Elkin is a rural town that celebrates outdoor adventure. The cozy community is part of the Yadkin Valley region, known for its relaxing lifestyle and variety of vineyards. This rural town is a great destination for fishing, hiking trails, mountain biking, kayaking, and fishing with five parks within its borders. Elkin is located between two state parks, Stone Mountain and Pilot Mountain, giving access to more options for rustic recreation. The town is also near the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of nation’s most scenic byways.
Food truck festivals, 5K marathons, concerts, and wine and beer festivals are held in Elkin every year. Go to the annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival, a family-friendly event featuring food, music, vendors, and dozens of local wineries. Elkin also has a lively arts and music scene. Multiple music festivals are held throughout the year while the Foothills Arts Council hosts community plays, gallery shows, poetry slams, music lessons, and art lessons. Head over to the Reeves Theater to catch live weekly music or sew a project at Yadkin Valley quilts.
The town is a popular destination because of its low cost of living and high-performing schools. Elkin was ranked 5th in the state for excellent schools by the State Board of Education in 2019. The town’s school system was the first in the country to integrate the STEAM curriculum in grades K-12.
Median Household Income
$60,191
Average: $78,204
Education
1,049
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
2,556
Workers Employed
Median Age
45 Years
Largest Age Group
50-59 Years
Approximately 13% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
25%
Housing Distribution
Elkin has more homeowners than renters.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Elkin, NC is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
Public
Grades PK-5
578 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
578 Students
Appalachian State Univ Academy at Elkin
Public
Grades K-5
90 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
282 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
282 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
188 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
185 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
399 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
399 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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© 2026. All rights reserved.
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.