1st Advantage Mortgage26% of Elk County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $66,380 (ACS 2020-24). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- 30,506 residents: Elk County basics
- How much Elk County households make
- Housing costs in Elk County
- Work, industries and travel time in Elk County
- Elk County at the extremes
- The counties around Elk County
- Census places in Elk County
- What a median Elk County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Elk County
- People and households in Elk County
- Verifying a lender from Elk County
- Before you sign
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
30,506 residents: Elk County basics
Elk County is home to about 30,506 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 59th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Pennsylvania. It covers 827 square miles of land, or about 37 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Elk County is not part of any metropolitan area. St. Marys is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 12,529 people (41% of the county total).
How much Elk County households make
Half of Elk County households take in less than $66,380 a year and half take in more, 15% below the Pennsylvania median of $77,971. Only 32 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Elk County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.6% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.0% | +11.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -7.4 pts |
On the low end, 23% of Elk County households report under $35,000; at the top, 26% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 8.7% of Elk County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. Gini index for Elk County: 0.421. None of these numbers decides a Elk County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Elk County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $719 in Elk County versus $1,209 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 44% in Elk County, 48% statewide. Home values center on $133,600, or 2.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1961.
| Housing | Elk County | Pennsylvania statewide | Elk County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $719/mo | $1,209/mo | 41% lower |
| Median home value | $133,600 | $254,500 | 48% lower |
| Owners | 80% | 69% | +10.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | -4.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 24% | -9.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 6.5% | 3.5% | +3.0 pts |
| Vacant units | 21% | 9% | +11.9 pts |
Because most Elk County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Work, industries and travel time in Elk County
Manufacturing employs 36% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 22%. Elk County over-indexes on manufacturing: 36% versus 11% in Pennsylvania. The survey's unemployment rate for Elk County averages 5.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 48% of Elk County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 8% need 45 or more. 6.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Elk County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 35.8% | +24.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 4.9% | -2.6 pts |
| Other services | 4.7% | +0.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Elk County at the extremes
- Few Pennsylvania counties match Elk County on median gross rent: $719/mo here, $1,209/mo for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 67. Lower rent can leave more room for a payment.
- Elk County ranks 2nd lowest of 67 Pennsylvania counties for the share of workers who work from home: 3.1%, against 15.6% statewide. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- Few Pennsylvania counties match Elk County on the uninsured rate: 2.3% here, 5.6% for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 67. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
The counties around Elk County
Distances run center to center, from Cameron County at 24 miles out to Clarion County at 43. Elk County's $66,380 median trails 0 of the six and beats 6; the range runs $50,573 (Cameron County) to $62,905 (McKean County).
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk County | - | $66,380 | $719/mo | 80% |
| Cameron County, PA | 24 mi | $50,573 | $689/mo | 72% |
| McKean County, PA | 27 mi | $62,905 | $809/mo | 78% |
| Jefferson County, PA | 27 mi | $58,686 | $750/mo | 75% |
| Clearfield County, PA | 30 mi | $62,152 | $791/mo | 79% |
| Forest County, PA | 31 mi | $52,191 | $817/mo | 78% |
| Clarion County, PA | 43 mi | $62,649 | $798/mo | 72% |
Census places in Elk County
Places, by size: the top 9 of 9. Roughly 30% of Elk County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $14,304, St. Marys over Ridgway. Median rent ranges from $393 in Weedville to $762 in St. Marys. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Marys | city | 12,529 | $67,167 | $762 | 7 mi |
| Ridgway | borough | 3,969 | $52,863 | $744 | 4 mi |
| Johnsonburg | borough | 2,424 | $61,484 | $578 | 5 mi |
| Kersey | CDP | 743 | $53,531 | $620 | 5 mi |
| Weedville | CDP | 523 | $62,054 | $393 | 13 mi |
| Byrnedale | CDP | 434 | $90,568 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wilcox | CDP | 323 | $57,500 | $792 | 10 mi |
| Force | CDP | 226 | $31,071 | n/a | 14 mi |
| James City | CDP | 174 | $65,789 | $1,000 | 16 mi |
What a median Elk County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Elk County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Elk County: $5,532
- Less median rent of $719, which is 13% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,217 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,489 total minus rent leaves $1,770
Homeowners in Elk County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Local borrowing considerations for Elk County
A few patterns in the Elk County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 48.4 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
People and households in Elk County
In Elk County, 21% of adults have at least a four-year degree (35% in Pennsylvania). Uninsured, Elk County: 2.3%; Pennsylvania: 5.6%.
| Elk County | vs Pennsylvania | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | -14.6 pts | -1.6 pts |
| Work from home | 3.1% | -12.5 pts | -5.6 pts |
| Median age | 48.4 | +7.5 yrs | +6.9 yrs |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | -4.2 pts | +0.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 2.3% | -3.3 pts | -5.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | -3.0 pts | -4.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.7% | -2.2 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | +0.4 pts | +1.2 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Verifying a lender from Elk County
Elk County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Elk County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Elk County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Elk County-area credit union.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Keep exploring
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Elk County household make?
About $66,380 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Pennsylvania median.
How does Elk County rent compare with Pennsylvania?
$719 locally versus $1,209 for the state, 41% below.
I live in a small Elk County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers St. Marys, Ridgway, Johnsonburg, Kersey, Weedville and 4 more.
Will a Elk County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Pennsylvania as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Elk County?
Start with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.