Elko

Encompassing over 17,200 square miles, Elko County is bigger than the states of New Hampshire and New Jersey combined. The County is located in the northeast area of the state with an estimated present population of 56,695, consisting of approximately 19,971 Households. Elko County ranks 2nd in Nevada for Annual Median Household Income (AMHI), at $72,232 per household. In 2017 the county ranked 3rd in total population among Nevada’s seventeen counties. Elko is the county seat, and is one of four cities situated within the county. The other three cities include Carlin, Wells and West Wendover.

The majority of the county’s residents live in Elko, which is located in the southwest part of the county at the intersection of U.S. Interstate 80 and State Route 225. The 110 miles from Elko, the county’s major population center, to West Wendover situated on the far eastern border of the county, makes these two housing markets virtually unrelated, even though they are in the same county. Elko’s economy is based largely on the mining industry, while West Wendover’s economy is entirely based on hospitality. Tenure, vacancy, and the need for subsidy follow this basic difference. 67.5% of its population being employed in the Private Sector and the remaining 32.5% in Government related jobs.

County Seat: Elko County Seat

Elko and its Housing Markets

Population

56,695

Median Household Size

2.80

Median Age

50

Median Household Income

$72,232

Housing Units

The following summarizes the distribution of homeowners versus renters among the total housing units in all areas.

Total Units
Elko/Spring Creek 13,832
Carlin 966
Wells 604
West Wendover 1,485
Remainder of County 3,084
All Areas 19,971

Homeowners

Renters
Elko/Spring Creek 67.3%
32.7%
Carlin 61.9%
38.1%
Wells 61.6%
38.4%
West Wendover 47.9%
52.1%
Remainder of County 63.5%
36.5%
All Areas 64.8%
35.2%

Estimated Occupied Units

The following summarizes the distribution of homeowners versus renters among the estimated occupied units in all areas.

All Renters

All Homeowners

Estimated Renter-Occupied Units

7,022

Estimated Owner-Occupied Units

12,949

Median Gross Rent

$944

Median Housing Value

$204,926

Median Rental Year Built

1982

Median Owner Year Built

1987

Percent Overburdened

24.1%

Percent Overburdened

15.0%

Overburdened Households

The following summarizes the number of households in all areas paying 30% or more of annual income toward housing costs. These households are considered overburdened.

Total Units
Elko/Spring Creek 2,229
Carlin 107
Wells 104
West Wendover 511
Remainder of County 680
All Areas 3,631

Homeowners

Renters
Elko/Spring Creek 13.6%
21.4%
Carlin 6.5%
18.5%
Wells 20.7%
11.6%
West Wendover 30.9%
37.6%
Remainder of County 17.5%
30.0%
All Areas 15.0%
24.1%
Percentage Age 65 and older

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