Small-town market profile · West Virginia
Elkins, WV area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Elkins area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- Population, 2025
- 26,882
- −3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 10,678
- Median household income
- $52,757
- +21.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $144,800
- Jobs located here
- 10,659
- Highest market score
- 60
- Home repair trades, #133 of 526 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Elkins area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Elkins area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 26,882 people live in the Elkins area, in 10,678 households. Population estimates show the Elkins area declined 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the Elkins area is $52,757 a year, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 21.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Elkins area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (56).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Elkins area are for home repair companies (60), coffee shops and cafes (60) and real estate agents and brokers (59). The Elkins area ranks #133 of 526 scored small-town markets for home repair companies.
The Elkins area is made up of one county, Randolph County. For its number of households, the Elkins area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for child care centers and preschools (62% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (63% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Elkins area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Elkins area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home repair trades | 60 | #133 of 526 | 6 | 5.6 | $4.4M | 182 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 60 | #157 of 529 | 5 | 4.7 | $6.8M | 184 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 59 | #142 of 533 | 12 | 11.2 | Index only | 219 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 58 | #168 of 507 | 5 | 4.7 | $6.8M | 164 | 3 |
| Real estate | 56 | #174 of 536 | 16 | 15.0 | Index only | 207 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 39 | #361 of 506 | 9 | 8.4 | $6.5M | 70 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 38 | #399 of 527 | 14 | 13.1 | $567K | 65 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 38 | #400 of 538 | 28 | 26.2 | $2.1M | 61 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 36 | #395 of 526 | 10 | 9.4 | $1M | 105 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 36 | #426 of 535 | 10 | 9.4 | $591K | 89 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 35 | #399 of 537 | 21 | 19.7 | $1.2M | 94 | 12 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 35 | #411 of 537 | 18 | 16.9 | $1.9M | 62 | 13 |
| Pizza | 34 | #421 of 520 | 13 | 12.2 | $2.6M | 51 | 13 |
| Chiropractors | 32 | #359 of 426 | 5 | 4.7 | $2.1M | 86 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 32 | #441 of 538 | 105 | 98.3 | $324K | 87 | 42 |
| Gas stations | 31 | #449 of 536 | 15 | 14.0 | $1.9M | 81 | 20 |
| Gyms | 30 | #436 of 506 | 6 | 5.6 | $985K | 76 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 30 | #440 of 536 | 21 | 19.7 | $830K | 94 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 30 | #449 of 538 | 61 | 57.1 | $169K | 111 | 29 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 29 | #447 of 536 | 16 | 15.0 | $1.1M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 26 | #400 of 458 | 8 | 7.5 | $1.3M | 72 | 13 |
| Auto repair and car care | 25 | #484 of 538 | 42 | 39.3 | $208K | 78 | 17 |
| Physical therapy | 23 | #367 of 400 | 5 | 4.7 | $2.1M | 86 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 23 | #469 of 529 | 13 | 12.2 | $4.5M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 22 | #513 of 538 | 56 | 52.4 | $607K | 91 | 24 |
| Auto repair shops | 21 | #501 of 538 | 24 | 22.5 | $365K | 82 | 15 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 19 | #524 of 538 | 46 | 43.1 | $178K | 84 | 8 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 17 | #382 of 400 | 5 | 4.7 | $2.1M | 66 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 17 | #525 of 538 | 26 | 24.3 | $315K | 73 | 6 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 15 | #378 of 387 | 5 | 4.7 | $1.8M | 57 | 4 |
| Barbershops | 13 | #354 of 377 | 7 | 6.6 | $1.2M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 10 | #446 of 454 | 10 | 9.4 | $367K | 37 | 14 |
| Nail salons | 8 | #382 of 387 | 9 | 8.4 | $910K | 54 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $455K | 67 | 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $2M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $2M | 44 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $2.9M | 116 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $8.8M | 186 | 6 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $4.6M | 156 | 5 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $5.8M | 46 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $4.6M | 273 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $2M | 98 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 312 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $2.9M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $2.6M | 97 | 4 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $13.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $17.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $26.5M | Too few | 7 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $8.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $10.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $5.9M | Too few | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Elkins area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $8.8M | $820 | 86 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $28.9M | $2,705 | 104 |
| Food away from home | $34M | $3,184 | 78 |
| Groceries | $58.2M | $5,452 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $8.2M | $767 | 76 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.7M | $344 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.9M | $553 | 56 |
| Medical and dental services | $10.3M | $965 | 75 |
| Pets | $7.9M | $744 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $17.4M | $1,632 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $24.8M | $2,325 | 119 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $26.5M | $2,479 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $13.7M | $1,285 | 91 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $143.4M | $13,432 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Elkins area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 26,882−3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 10,678
- Median age
- 44.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 1,040 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 27
- Median household income
- $52,757+21.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $71,437
- Median home value
- $144,800
- Jobs located here
- 10,659
- Daytime population
- 26,808Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Elkins area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Elkins area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Elkins area 1
- Randolph County, WV27,576 people
Other markets based in West Virginia 10
- Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area370,729 people
- Charleston, WV metro area205,398 people
- Morgantown, WV metro area141,323 people
- Wheeling, WV-OH metro area136,920 people
- Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH metro area114,754 people
- Beckley, WV metro area112,714 people
- Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro area88,460 people
- Bluefield, WV-VA area98,187 people
- Clarksburg, WV area89,182 people
- Fairmont, WV area55,909 people
Questions
How fast is the Elkins, WV area growing?
Population estimates put the Elkins area at 26,882 people in 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 10,678 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 21.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Elkins, WV area spend?
Households in the Elkins area spend about $143.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $58.2M on groceries and $34M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Elkins area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (56).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Elkins, WV area?
Of the business types scored in the Elkins area, home repair companies (60), coffee shops and cafes (60) and real estate agents and brokers (59) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For home repair companies, that ranks #133 of 526 scored small-town markets.
How does the Elkins, WV area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Elkins area is $52,757, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $144,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for child care centers and preschools (62% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (63% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 33 of the 56 business types have a score in the Elkins area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Elkins area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in West Virginia · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Elkins area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Elkins area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.