Elk City: Demographics & People
About 11,361 people live in Elk City, in 4,976 households. Population shrank 0.4% from 11,406 (2022) to 11,361 (2024). Median age 36.4 years. (0.7y younger than Beckham County; 1.2y older than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 74% White (non-Hispanic) and 18% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.31). 63% of households are family-led. County is gaining 158 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 43% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 37% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 77 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.4% from 11,406 (2022) to 11,361 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~11,316 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 11,258.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 22,410 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 11,406 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 11,361 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 11,361 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 11,258 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 36.4y is 2.5 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 36.4 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 11,361 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 2,852 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 2,626.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,783.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,100 |
| Population under 18 | 2,852 |
| Median age | 36.4 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 11,361 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.31 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 10,068 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 233 |
| Asian residents | 176 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,907 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 31.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 81.3% |
| Asian population | 1.8% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Black population | 2.1% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 18.3% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 74.2% (vs Oklahoma 57.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 7,313 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 3,348 |
| Share born in this state | 64.4% |
| Share born in another state | 35.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 29.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 6.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 982 |
| From Europe | 21 |
| From Africa | 74 |
Households & Family Composition
4,976 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 63% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 3,001 families, 30% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,077 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 3,001 |
| Married couples with children | 906 |
| Single-parent households | 145 |
| Average household size | 2.23 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 350 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 64 |
| Family households | 3,116 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 62.6% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 4,976 households (vs Oklahoma 23,671) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 16.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 158 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 16.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 17,870 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 17,712 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 158 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 765 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 138 residents live in group quarters (1.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 138 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40009 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 009 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Beckham |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 38.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 31.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 45.60 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40009 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Beckham County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 901 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40009 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Beckham County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 49.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 42.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 44.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 21,859 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 11,361, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 11,361 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Beckham County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade