At a Glance
Median Income
$78,472
$47,905 per capita
Home Value
$348,400
Zillow: $518,408
Median Rent
$1,032/mo
19.2% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
46.8%
98.1% high school+
Unemployment
0.9%
2.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
33.4%
10.7% smoking rate
How Elk Rapids Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Elk Rapids's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Elk Rapids a Good Place to Live?
A+
4.5 / 5.0 - Excellent
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Elk Rapids residents earn a median household income of $78,472 , which is 4% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $47,905. The unemployment rate stands at 0.9% (75% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 2.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,762 business establishments, including 290 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Elk Rapids is $348,400 , 24% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $518,408. Median rent is $1,032/month, with 19.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1966.
Education
46.8% of adults in Elk Rapids hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(39% above the national average).
98.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Elk Rapids has an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C).
Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 31.3 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,558
Median Age57.5 yrs
Density944/mi²
Male / Female44% / 56%
Foreign Born3.0%
Veterans11.2%
Economy
A+
Median Income$78,472
Per Capita$47,905
Unemployment0.9%
Poverty2.4%
County GDP$7,470M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,140
Housing
A
Home Value$348,400
Rent$1,032
Ownership78.5%
Zillow$518,408
Housing Units1,211
Rent Burden19.2%
Health
Obesity33.4%
Diabetes7.4%
Smoking10.7%
Heart Disease4.4%
Premature Death6,589/100K
Climate
Avg Temp46°F
Rain31.3 in/yr
Elevation592 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+46.8%
High School+98.1%
Graduate+18.4%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 50% / D 48%
Commute18 min
Broadband94.9%
Internet Speed152 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries6
Did You Know?
The median home in Elk Rapids was built in 1966.
The nearest airport is Gaylord Regional (35 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.437 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
12.3% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 152 Mbps.
There are 290 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 14 fatal vehicle crashes.