City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Kivalina, AK

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

813
Residents
$70,278
Median income
$119,600
Median home
$1,533
Median rent (state)

Kivalina - the verdict

Nationally, Kivalina sits in the 50th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

50th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
61st
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: Kivalina, AK

813 people live in Kivalina, Alaska - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $70,278 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 18.4%. Kivalina's housing stock carries a median value of $119,600, and the median resident age is 20.7 years. Educational attainment runs 2.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 40.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Kivalina's yearly average temperature at 22.7°F with 9.7 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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,533 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alaska run around $271, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 34.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

813 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$70,278 /yr

Poverty 18.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Kivalina compare to other US cities?

Here's how Kivalina stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% 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 Kivalina'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.

50thIncome percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Kivalina's home value compares nationally

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

$119,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Kivalina $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 - Kivalina, AK Kivalina, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kivalina, 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 Kivalina, AK median $70,278/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%
Kivalina, 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 Kivalina, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 2.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 40.9%

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

Population
813
Median Income
$70,278
Median Home Value
$119,600
Median Age
20.7
Poverty Rate
18.4%
Labor force participation
40.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
2.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
22.7°F
Annual Precipitation
9.7"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
380 residents400 residents420 residents440 residents460 residents 202020212022202320242025 444 residents 399 residents ▼ -10.1%
Kivalina's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
2.2%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
4.8%
Walk
48.9%
Work from Home
1.6%
Other
42.5%

Based on 186 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 Kivalina sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,533/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
34.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Unalakleet
800 people
Buffalo Soapstone
799 people
Kachemak
835 people
St. Mary's
788 people
Denali Park
787 people
Kwethluk
852 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kivalina's 813 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Leesburg, AL
813 people
Maplesville, AL
813 people
Donnellson, IA
813 people
Perryville, KY
813 people
Saucier, MS
813 people
Keefton, OK
813 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kivalina's $70,278 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Braceville, IL
$70,278 median income
Clear Lake, IA
$70,278 median income
Hagaman, NY
$70,278 median income
Donnelsville, OH
$70,278 median income
Green Island, NY
$70,281 median income
Nice, CA
$70,274 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kivalina, 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 Kivalina, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 1.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 96.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.0% 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 Kivalina 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
Kivalina (this city) 813 $70,278
Unalakleet 800 $86,250
Buffalo Soapstone 799 $68,750
Kachemak 835 $71,125
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kivalina, AK?

What is the population of Kivalina, AK? +

Kivalina, AK has a population of 813 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Kivalina, the typical household earns $70,278 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kivalina? +

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

Kivalina's median home value sits at $119,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Kivalina? +

Climate normals put Kivalina's yearly average temperature at 22.7°F, 9.7 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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