1st Advantage MortgageElko County households have a median income of $86,487 and median rent of $1,164 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Elko County
- How much Elko County households make
- How Elko County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Elko County
- Elko County and the counties next door
- Places inside Elko County
- A Elko County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Elko County
- More Elko County figures
- Who licenses lenders for Elko County residents
- A Elko County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Elko County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Elko County
Elko County is home to about 54,047 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 6th most populous of 17 county-level areas in Nevada. Spread over 17,173 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.1 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Elko County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (4 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Elko, with about 20,696 residents, or 38% of the county.
How much Elko County households make
The median household income in Elko County is $86,487; statewide it is $78,260, so Elko County runs 11% above Nevada as a whole. That places it 5th among Nevada's 17 county-level areas.
| Band | Elko County | Compared with Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.6% | -4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.9% | +6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -1.8 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 43% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.8%, 3 points lower than the state's 12.4%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Elko County median.
How Elko County residents earn a living
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. Compared with Nevada, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (20% against 1%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Elko County. About 63% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Elko County workers | vs Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.4% | +19.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.5% | -3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -3.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.2% | -7.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Elko County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,164 in Elko County versus $1,597 statewide. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. Home values center on $301,400, or 3.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 71%.
| Cost | Elko County | Nevada figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,164/mo | $1,597/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $301,400 | $435,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 60% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 56% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.4% | 5.2% | n/a |
Elko County and the counties next door
Twin Falls County is closest, 91 miles from center to center; the sixth, White Pine County, is 121 miles off. Income ranges from $64,406 in Owyhee County to $72,865 in White Pine County; none of these neighbors top Elko County's median. The list crosses into Idaho, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko County | - | $86,487 | $1,164/mo | 71% |
| Twin Falls County, ID | 91 mi | $67,409 | $1,089/mo | 70% |
| Eureka County, NV | 94 mi | $70,473 | $969/mo | 83% |
| Owyhee County, ID | 108 mi | $64,406 | $821/mo | 73% |
| Cassia County, ID | 119 mi | $70,830 | $1,000/mo | 69% |
| Jerome County, ID | 121 mi | $71,724 | $966/mo | 75% |
| White Pine County, NV | 121 mi | $72,865 | $937/mo | 75% |
Places inside Elko County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 87% of Elko County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $107,454 at the median in Wells, $49,013 in West Wendover. Rent is cheapest in Owyhee ($524) and steepest in Spring Creek ($1,386). None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko | city | 20,696 | $79,036 | $1,267 | 30 mi |
| Spring Creek | CDP | 14,739 | $105,154 | $1,386 | 30 mi |
| West Wendover | city | 4,514 | $49,013 | $611 | 72 mi |
| Carlin | city | 2,088 | $60,898 | $1,197 | 49 mi |
| Jackpot | CDP | 1,415 | n/a | $725 | 68 mi |
| Wells | city | 1,352 | $107,454 | $976 | 21 mi |
| Osino | CDP | 1,341 | $92,756 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Owyhee | CDP | 647 | $54,000 | $524 | 70 mi |
| Montello | CDP | 80 | n/a | n/a | 61 mi |
| Mountain City | CDP | 16 | n/a | n/a | 58 mi |
| Lamoille | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 30 mi |
A Elko County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Elko County's medians:
- $7,207 a month: gross income for a household at the Elko County median
- Median rent: $1,164, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,935 a month
If your rent is above $1,164, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Elko County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Elko County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 24% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Elko County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Elko County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Higher earners. 43% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
More Elko County figures
18% of Elko County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 11.4% for Nevada.
| Measure | Elko County | Nevada statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.8% | 27.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 12.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 11.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 11.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 7.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 19.5% |
Who licenses lenders for Elko County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Elko County, check the Nevada Financial Institutions Division. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Nevada: Nevada personal loans.
A Elko County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Elko County:
- Price the Elko County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Elko County-area credit union.
- A Nevada license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Elko County
For statewide rules and data, see the Nevada guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elko County a high-income county?
Its $86,487 median ranks 5th of 17 Nevada counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Elko County?
$1,164 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I own my home in Elko County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Elko County?
By population: Elko, Spring Creek, West Wendover, Carlin, Jackpot. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Elko County or elsewhere in Nevada, the same rules apply.