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Elkader, IA
City in Clayton County, Iowa.
Population
1,293
Land area
1.4sq mi
People per sq mi
946
ZIP codes
0
Elkader and its ZIP codes
Elkader at a glance
- Elkader is about 16 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $62,857 a year, 16% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $143,200 (31% below Iowa) and median rent is $859 a month.
Local data for Elkader, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Elkader, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$62,857
Poverty rate
9.5%
Median home value
$143,200
Median rent
$859/mo
Homeownership
74.6%
Bachelor's or higher
26.0%
Median age
40.5
Average commute
16.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (648), Irish Americans (276), Norwegian Americans (99).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Clayton County. PPP loans are for Elkader.
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,315
6,171 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$68,155
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$137M
FY 2026, $8,061 per person
How people get to work
Elkader, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.0%
- Carpooled1.9%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked8.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home12.6%
Average one-way commute: 16.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Elkader, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
651
Countywide, mostly flood
Flood insurance policies
85
0.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 6°F
38.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone9 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Elkader, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.9%
U.S. 33.3% +6.6 pts
Diabetes
13.9%
U.S. 12.1% +1.8 pts
Smoking
16.2%
U.S. 12.8% +3.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.8%
U.S. 11.1% -4.3 pts
Cities near Elkader
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| St. OlafCity | 5.1 mi | 0.2 |
| FarmersburgCity | 7.5 mi | 0.4 |
| VolgaCity | 7.9 mi | 0.8 |
| GarnavilloCity | 8.5 mi | 0.9 |
| ElkportCity | 10 mi | 0.2 |
| GarberCity | 10 mi | 0.2 |
| WadenaCity | 13 mi | 0.8 |
| ClaytonCity | 13 mi | 0.5 |
| MononaCity | 13 mi | 1.4 |
| ElginCity | 14 mi | 0.7 |
| Strawberry PointCity | 14 mi | 2.1 |
| LuanaCity | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| EdgewoodCity | 15 mi | 1 |
| OsterdockCity | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| ArlingtonCity | 15 mi | 1 |
| GuttenbergCity | 16 mi | 2.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Elkader, IA in?
- Elkader is in Clayton County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Elkader, IA?
- About 1,293 people live in Elkader, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Elkader?
- Nearby places include St. Olaf (5.1 mi), Farmersburg (7.5 mi), Volga (7.9 mi), Garnavillo (8.5 mi), Elkport (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023