City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Arctic, AK

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Arctic - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

177
Residents
$39,750
Median income
$38,400
Median home
$1,676
Median rent (state)

Arctic - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Arctic lands in the 7th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

7th
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
66th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Arctic, AK

Alaska's Arctic is a small town, with 177 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Arctic brings in $39,750 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 51.4%. Arctic's housing stock carries a median value of $38,400, and the median resident age is 19.8 years. 4.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 23.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Alaska tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 102.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,676 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alaska's average monthly utility costs around $271 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 88.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

177 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$39,750 /yr

Poverty 51.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Arctic compare to other US cities?

Where Arctic sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 66% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Arctic's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Alaska, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

7thIncome percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Arctic's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$38,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Arctic $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Arctic, AK Arctic, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Arctic, AK-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Arctic, AK median $39,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Arctic, AK's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Arctic, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 51.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 23.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
177
Median Income
$39,750
Median Home Value
$38,400
Median Age
19.8
Poverty Rate
51.4%
Labor force participation
23.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.9%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
10.0%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
30.0%
Work from Home
0.0%
Other
60.0%

Based on 20 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alaska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$271
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alaska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alaska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Arctic sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,676/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Port Alsworth
174 people
Ruby
180 people
Seldovia
174 people
Allakaket
173 people
Tanacross
173 people
Tenakee Springs
172 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Arctic's 177 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fifty-Six, AR
177 people
Knobel, AR
177 people
Midpines, CA
177 people
White Plains, GA
177 people
Admire, KS
177 people
Cameron, LA
177 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Arctic's $39,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Red Level, AL
$39,750 median income
Climax, GA
$39,750 median income
Plymouth, IL
$39,750 median income
Renick, MO
$39,750 median income
Monroe, OK
$39,750 median income
Yoder, WY
$39,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Arctic, AK Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Arctic, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 2.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 97.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Arctic compares to nearby Alaska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Arctic (this city) 177 $39,750
Port Alsworth 174 $66,250
Ruby 180 $35,208
Seldovia 174 $84,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Arctic, AK?

What is the population of Arctic, AK? +

Arctic, AK has a population of 177 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Arctic, AK? +

Arctic households earn a median of $39,750 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Arctic? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Arctic; the closest available measure is the Alaska state average, a cost of living index of 102.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alaska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Arctic, AK? +

Arctic's median home value sits at $38,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.