What percentage of people rent in Elkin, NC?

Name: Renters and owners in Elkin, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

39.2% (±7.7 points) of the occupied homes in Elkin, NC are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 651 renting households against 1,009 that own their home.

In Elkin, the share of households that rent went from 37.1% in 2015–2019 to 39.2% in 2020–2024 (+2.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 39.2% (±7.7 points)
Renting households: 651 (±126)
Median renter income: $27,558 (±$8,442)

Who rents and who owns in Elkin

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Elkin	Surry County	North Carolina	United States
Renter-occupied share	39.2% (±7.7 points)	26.6% (±2.1 points)	33.4% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	651 (±126)	7,939 (±674)	1,428,852 (±8,279)	45,017,354
Owning households	1,009 (±180)	21,930 (±629)	2,853,493 (±14,473)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.5 (±0.5)	2.2 (±0.1)	2.3 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.2 (±0.2)	2.4 (±0.1)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$27,558 (±$8,442)	$32,551 (±$3,606)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$82,991 (±$20,244)	$68,759 (±$4,292)	$88,911 (±$521)	$100,009

In Elkin, the renter share is higher than in Surry County (26.6%).

It is not measurably different from North Carolina (33.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (34.8%).

In Surry County, Elkin ranks 4 of 5 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 220 of 663.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Elkin has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	37.1% (±6.6 points)	39.2% (±7.7 points)	+2.1 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$549 (±$108)	$807 (±$79)	+47.0%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$51,286 (±$6,725)	$60,740 (±$8,567)	+18.4%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Elkin

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Elkin
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Elkin	—	39.2% (±7.7 points)	—
Jonesville	2.1 mi	55.5% (±10.7 points)	Higher
Ronda	6.1 mi	22.6% (±11.7 points)	Lower
Boonville	7.9 mi	34.2% (±10.2 points)	Not measurably different
Dobson	11 mi	51.3% (±9.5 points)	Not measurably different
Yadkinville	14 mi	47.2% (±9.6 points)	Not measurably different
Hays	15 mi	5.5% (±7.1 points)	Lower
North Wilkesboro	17 mi	48.7% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Fairplains	18 mi	38.2% (±12.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Ronda, NC (22.6%), Hays, NC (5.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Jonesville, NC (55.5%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Surry County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Dobson	51.3% (±9.5 points)
2	Mount Airy	44.6% (±5.8 points)
3	Pilot Mountain	44.1% (±8.8 points)
4	Elkin	39.2% (±7.7 points)
5	Flat Rock (community)	24.8% (±15.4 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Elkin

How many renters are there in Elkin?

Elkin has an estimated 651 (±126) renting households, 39.2% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Elkin?

In Elkin, the share of households that rent went from 37.1% in 2015–2019 to 39.2% in 2020–2024 (+2.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Elkin?

A renting household in Elkin has 2.5 people on average, against 2.2 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Elkin?

The median renting household in Elkin, NC has an income of $27,558 (±$8,442) a year, against $82,991 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Elkin town, North Carolina (place:20620, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.