ElkoSC
Settled in 1871, this town now has 140 residents.
Is Elko a good place to live?
27% of residents live below the poverty line in Elko, above both South Carolina’s towns (17%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Among 170 South Carolina towns, just one has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Elko. Elko has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Elko stand out
Where Elko beats most towns.
140 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Elko: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Elko, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Elko.
Elko has 4.7 jobs for every working resident, and 268 people commute in
For half of commuters, work is under 26 miles away. Elko’s mean commuting time is 34 minutes. Most people who work leave Elko to do it: just 3% work in town. Employers in Elko shed 415 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 270.
| Elko | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 34 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 6.1% | 8% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Elko stands out in South Carolina and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have been diagnosed with depression
The share of adults in Elko who say their health is fair or poor: 28%. Only 9 of the 170 South Carolina towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Elko. Among adults locally, 50% have high blood pressure and 45% sleep under 7 hours. CDC measures, 32 in all: Elko beats South Carolina on 3 and trails on 20.
| Elko | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 15% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 50% | 40% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 37% | 35% |
| What stands out | Elko | SC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.3% | 15.7% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 18.6% | 22.3% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 14.3% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Elko, mostly hurricanes
28% of Elko’s expected losses from natural hazards come from hurricanes, followed by inland flooding at 27%. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 51% of U.S. communities. Federal aid has come to Elko households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2024.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about Elko
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Elko; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Elko residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across South Carolina.
Every workday, about 268 people come to Elko for work
Where Elko’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Elko
Town in South Carolina, United States
Elko is a town in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Elko had a population of 140.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 338 ft
- ZIP code
- 29826
- Area code
- 803
Questions about Elko
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Elko, SC a good place to live?
Elko has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.