City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Knik River, AK

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

858
Residents
$100,417
Median income
$266,800
Median home
$1,631
Median rent (state)

Knik River - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Knik River lands in the 78th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

78th
percentile, household income
59th
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: Knik River, AK

Knik River is a small town in Alaska, home to 858 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Knik River brings in $100,417 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.0%. Knik River's housing stock carries a median value of $266,800, and the median resident age is 37.1 years. Educational attainment runs 24.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 66.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Alaska tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Alaska scores 102.4 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,631 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alaska run around $271, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 97.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

858 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$100,417 /yr

Poverty 8.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Knik River compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 78% higher than other cities
Home value 59% 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

Each percentile compares Knik River 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 sits close to the middle of Alaska's city distribution

Among the 228 Alaska cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Knik River ranks #72 - the 68th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Knik River only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#27 of 215
87th percentile in Alaska
Median Gross Rent
#67 of 228
60th percentile in Alaska
Median Home Value
#73 of 200
64th percentile in Alaska
Poverty Rate
#132 of 225
41st percentile in Alaska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#72 of 228
68th 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.

78thIncome percentile

78th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Knik River's home value compares nationally

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

$266,800 41st percentile more affordable than 41% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Knik River $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 - Knik River, AK Knik River, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Knik River, 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 Knik River, AK median $100,417/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%
Knik River, 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 Knik River, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.6%

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

Population
858
Median Income
$100,417
Median Home Value
$266,800
Median Age
37.1
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Labor force participation
66.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.2%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.1%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
2.8%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
9.5%
Other
4.5%

Based on 464 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 Knik River 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

Kwethluk
852 people
Mountain
872 people
Kachemak
835 people
Hoonah
894 people
Kivalina
813 people
Unalakleet
800 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Knik River's 858 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Garden Grove, FL
858 people
Broxton, GA
858 people
Van Buren, IN
858 people
Camargo, KY
858 people
Grove City, MN
858 people
Walker, MN
858 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Knik River's $100,417 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rough and Ready, CA
$100,417 median income
Willey, IA
$100,417 median income
Bennet, NE
$100,417 median income
Boonton, NJ
$100,417 median income
Cottonwood, TX
$100,417 median income
Oakfield, WI
$100,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Knik River, 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 Knik River, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.9% 6.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.8% White 85.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 4.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 6.1% 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 Knik River 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
Knik River (this city) 858 $100,417
Kwethluk 852 $48,056
Mountain 872 $62,188
Kachemak 835 $71,125
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Knik River, AK?

What is the population of Knik River, AK? +

Knik River, AK counts 858 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Knik River, AK? +

Knik River households earn a median of $100,417 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Knik River? +

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

The median home value in Knik River is $266,800, 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

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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.