City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Buffalo Soapstone, AK

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

799
Residents
$68,750
Median income
$278,600
Median home
$1,631
Median rent (state)

Buffalo Soapstone - the verdict

Buffalo Soapstone ranks in the 48th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

48th
percentile, household income
61st
percentile, home value
64th
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: Buffalo Soapstone, AK

Buffalo Soapstone is a small town in Alaska, home to 799 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Buffalo Soapstone brings in $68,750 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.9%. Home values in Buffalo Soapstone run a median of $278,600, and the median resident age is 48.2 years. About 28.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 45.3% 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 $1,631 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $271 across Alaska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 97.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

799 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$68,750 /yr

Poverty 11.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Buffalo Soapstone compare to other US cities?

Buffalo Soapstone measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 48% higher than other cities
Home value 61% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% 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 Buffalo Soapstone'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.

48thIncome percentile

48th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Buffalo Soapstone's home value compares nationally

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

$278,600 39th percentile more affordable than 39% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Buffalo Soapstone $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 - Buffalo Soapstone, AK Buffalo Soapstone, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buffalo Soapstone, 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 Buffalo Soapstone, AK median $68,750/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%
Buffalo Soapstone, 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 Buffalo Soapstone, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.3%

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

Population
799
Median Income
$68,750
Median Home Value
$278,600
Median Age
48.2
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Labor force participation
45.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.7%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.0%
Carpool
1.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
10.5%
Other
3.4%

Based on 294 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 Buffalo Soapstone sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,631/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Unalakleet
800 people
St. Mary's
788 people
Denali Park
787 people
Kivalina
813 people
Happy Valley
773 people
Nunapitchuk
766 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo Soapstone's 799 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Queen Valley, AZ
799 people
Dunkerton, IA
799 people
Tribune, KS
799 people
La Hacienda, NM
799 people
Red Butte, WY
799 people
Brenda, AZ
798 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo Soapstone's $68,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Friendship, AR
$68,750 median income
Garner, AR
$68,750 median income
Poyen, AR
$68,750 median income
Colusa, CA
$68,750 median income
Yampa, CO
$68,750 median income
Albany, IL
$68,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buffalo Soapstone, 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 Buffalo Soapstone, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.8% 19.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% White 74.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.3% American Indian 4.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 19.1% 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 Buffalo Soapstone 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
Buffalo Soapstone (this city) 799 $68,750
Unalakleet 800 $86,250
St. Mary's 788 $45,000
Denali Park 787 $83,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buffalo Soapstone, AK?

What is the population of Buffalo Soapstone, AK? +

Buffalo Soapstone, AK counts 799 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buffalo Soapstone, AK? +

Buffalo Soapstone households earn a median of $68,750 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buffalo Soapstone? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buffalo Soapstone; 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 Buffalo Soapstone, AK? +

Buffalo Soapstone's median home value sits at $278,600, 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.