City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Ester, AK

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

2,784
Residents
$67,640
Median income
$242,000
Median home
$1,676
Median rent (state)

Ester - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ester places in the 47th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

47th
percentile, household income
54th
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: Ester, AK

2,784 people live in Ester, Alaska - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $67,640 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.3%. Home values in Ester run a median of $242,000, and the median resident age is 36.9 years. 35.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 56.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 26.8°F with 14.6 inches of precipitation per year.

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

Population

2,784 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$67,640 /yr

Poverty 2.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Ester compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 54% 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

Each percentile compares Ester against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alaska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alaska-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Ester toward the top of Alaska's cities

Among the 228 Alaska cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Ester ranks #30 - the 87th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ester only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#107 of 215
50th percentile in Alaska
Median Gross Rent
#43 of 228
71st percentile in Alaska
Median Home Value
#86 of 200
57th percentile in Alaska
Poverty Rate
#182 of 225
19th percentile in Alaska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#30 of 228
87th percentile in Alaska

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alaska only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

47thIncome percentile

47th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ester's home value compares nationally

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

$242,000 46th percentile more affordable than 46% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Ester $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 - Ester, AK Ester, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ester, 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 Ester, AK median $67,640/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%
Ester, 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 Ester, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.2%

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

Population
2,784
Median Income
$67,640
Median Home Value
$242,000
Median Age
36.9
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Labor force participation
56.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.9%

Climate

Avg Temperature
26.8°F
Annual Precipitation
14.6"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.1%
Carpool
0.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
8.4%
Other
4.4%

Based on 1,340 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 Ester 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

Seward
2,735 people
North Pole
2,663 people
Farm Loop
2,940 people
Kotzebue
3,046 people
Eielson AFB
3,133 people
Fritz Creek
2,432 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ester's 2,784 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

De Leon Springs, FL
2,784 people
Clinton, NJ
2,784 people
Inverness Highlands North, FL
2,785 people
Eufaula, OK
2,783 people
Colonial Heights, TN
2,783 people
Colfax, WA
2,785 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ester's $67,640 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Katherine, AZ
$67,639 median income
Rest Haven, IL
$67,639 median income
Ossian, IN
$67,641 median income
Enchanted Hills, IN
$67,642 median income
East Rancho Dominguez, CA
$67,645 median income
New Egypt, NJ
$67,633 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ester, 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 Ester, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.2% 6.9% 6.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 80.2% Black or African American 2.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 2.1% Native Hawaiian 6.9% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 6.9% 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 Ester 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
Ester (this city) 2,784 $67,640
Seward 2,735 $71,016
North Pole 2,663 $93,355
Farm Loop 2,940 $110,332
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NOAA Normals OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ester, AK?

What is the population of Ester, AK? +

The population of Ester, AK stands at 2,784 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Ester households earn a median of $67,640 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ester? +

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

Ester's median home value sits at $242,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Ester? +

Climate normals put Ester's yearly average temperature at 26.8°F, 14.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

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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.