6th most populous of 17
With 54,363 residents in 2024, Elko County ranks 6th by population among Nevada's 17 counties and is home to 1.7% of the state's residents.
Elko County is home to 54,363 people (2024 estimate) on 17,173 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
54,363
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
53,703
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+1.2%
2020–2024
Land area
17,173 mi²
44,479 km²
Population density
3.2 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
540
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
489
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+51
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−75
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$58,930
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$4.0 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$86,487
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
9.8%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
17.8%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
8.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$301,400
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.9%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202454,363▲ 20%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 54,363 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 48,818 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 45,233 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +20.2% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +135 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −210 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 9.9 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 9.0 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Nevada | 6th of 17 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $58,930 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $4.0 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $86,487 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 17.8% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 8.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $301,400 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,164/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 35.7 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 19,627 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Elko County in context
Comparable indicators for Elko County, Nevada and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Nevada | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +1.2% | +5.2% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.9 | 9.8 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 9.0 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | -1.4 | 15.3 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 3.2 | 29.7 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $58,930 | $69,805 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $86,487 | $78,260 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 12.4% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 17.8% | 27.9% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 8.5% | 19.1% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $301,400 | $435,400 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,164/month | $1,597/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 35.7 years | 39.1 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.4% | 60.0% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Did you know? Elko County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 45,233 in 2000 to 54,363 in 2024, a change of +20.2%, compared with +61.9% for Nevada as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 540 births and 489 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 51.
Peak population in 2023
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 54,383 in 2023. The 2024 figure is 20 lower.
8th in density
Elko County has about 3.2 residents per square mile of land, ranking 8th of 17 counties; Nevada averages 29.7.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $86,487 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 5th of 17 Nevada counties; the state median is $78,260.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $4.0 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 5th largest among 17 Nevada counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 9.9% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS