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Buying a home in Elk County, Pennsylvania

The typical owner-occupied home in Elk County is worth about $133,600, 48% below the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and 60% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,697 a year in property taxes, about 1.27% of their home's value, close to the Pennsylvania rate of 1.30%. The median household earns $66,380 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (3.3 times for Pennsylvania). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 40% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Elk County at a glance

Elk County Pennsylvania U.S.
Median home value $133,600 $254,500 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,697 $3,311 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.27% 1.30% 0.94%
Median household income $66,380 $77,971 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 40% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,139 $1,762 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.3% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $719 $1,209 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.9% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1961 1965 1980
Vacant homes 21.1% 9.2% 10.1%
Population 30,506 13,018,639 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Elk County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Elk County home of $133,600 with 20% down costs about $916 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,139, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $39,259 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Elk County household income of $66,380; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $226,000.

The median rent here is $719 a month, so owning the median home costs about $197 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$26,720
Loan amount$106,880
Principal and interest$719
Property taxes (1.27% a year)$141
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
PMI$0
Total per month$916

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,676
Loan amount$131,180
Principal and interest$882
Property taxes (1.27% a year)$141
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
FHA mortgage insurance$59
Total per month$1,139

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Questions about home buying in Elk County

What is the median home value in Elk County?

About $133,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Elk County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,697 a year, which is about 1.27% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Elk County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $916 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $39,259 a year.

More about Elk County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data