City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Mountain, AK

Mountain's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

872
Residents
$62,188
Median income
$21,500
Median home
$1,467
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Mountain, AK - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Mountain.

Place dossier plate

Sheet AK-MOUNTAIN-AK · Mountain, AK 872 pop · income 39th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 872
  • INC-MID $62,188
  • COL-PAR 102.4
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-LOWER 39th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Easton
  • HOME-LOW $21,500
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Easton, IL (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Mountain

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Mountain on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Mountain on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 872.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $62,188. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Mountain - the verdict

Mountain ranks in the 39th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

39th
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
70th
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: Mountain, AK

872 people live in Mountain, Alaska - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Mountain brings in $62,188 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 32.8%. Home values in Mountain run a median of $21,500, and the median resident age is 21.2 years. About 1.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 37.5% 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,467 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alaska's average monthly utility costs around $271 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 35.2 out of 100 (Very Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Mountain's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to work and mobility to population change to comparison shortlist; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Mountain, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates, local building permits; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

How far does income reach against housing in Mountain?

The home-value-to-income reference is relatively compact: the ACS median home value is 0.3 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 32.8%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. The ratio makes housing the clearest place to start this profile, but a low multiple can coexist with slow demand, older stock, or household-level hardship. Compare the home-value distribution and same-state peer table before treating it as an advantage.

Compare the housing trade-off →

2. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Mountain?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Walking is the largest reported mode at 31.0%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

3. Population change

Is Mountain growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Recent estimates point downward. A falling count can reflect migration, household size, annexation boundaries, or estimation noise, so it is a prompt to inspect the full series rather than a claim about local economic health.

Census PEP estimates show the population declined by -33 residents from 2020 to 2025, a -5.3% change. No comparable local building-permit series is available here, so population change should not be read as a housing-supply measure. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

See the national growth ranking →

Question 4

Which cities make useful reference points for Mountain?

Within Alaska, the closest population matches are Knik River (858 residents, $100,417 income); Kwethluk (852 residents, $48,056 income); Hoonah (894 residents, $81,406 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Oakman, AL (872 residents); South Vinemont, AL (872 residents); Minkler, CA (872 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Population

872 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$62,188 /yr

Below median income · poverty 32.8% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Above-average cost · BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

City profile score · Mountain, AK

19/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Household income F
$62,188

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Cost of living F
102.4 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Poverty rate F
32.8%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Bachelor's+ share F
1.7%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Mountain profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Household income, Cost of living, Poverty rate, Bachelor's+ share. Household incomeCost of livingPoverty rateBachelor's+ share 19 F
Mountain profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Household income: 38/100 (F) · $62,188
  • Cost of living: 29/100 (F) · 102.4 index
  • Poverty rate: 0/100 (F) · 32.8%
  • Bachelor's+ share: 0/100 (F) · 1.7%

How does Mountain compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 39% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 70% 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 Mountain against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alaska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alaska-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Mountain near the bottom of Alaska's cities

Among the 228 Alaska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Mountain ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mountain only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#121 of 215
44th percentile in Alaska
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 228
0th percentile in Alaska
Median Home Value
#200 of 200
0th percentile in Alaska
Poverty Rate
#30 of 225
87th percentile in Alaska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#209 of 228
8th percentile in Alaska
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

39thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

39th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Mountain's home value compares nationally

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

$21,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $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. Mountain $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

Mountain's home-value-to-income ratio: 0.3×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#2 of 15,516
More affordable than 100% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#2 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 0.3×, Mountain sits in the affordable band: national rank #2 of 15,516 and #2 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$62,188 Mountain, AK median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Mountain, AK Mountain, AK's median household income ($62,188) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Mountain, AK-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Mountain, AK median $62,188/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%
Mountain, AK median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Mountain, AK.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 1.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 32.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 37.5%

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

Population
872
Median Income
$62,188
Median Home Value
$21,500
Median Age
21.2
Poverty Rate
32.8%
Labor force participation
37.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
1.7%

Population Change

PEP vintage

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
580 residents600 residents620 residents640 residents 202020212022202320242025 618 residents 585 residents ▼ -5.3%
Mountain's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 618 residents
2021 619 residents
2022 606 residents
2023 592 residents
2024 586 residents
2025 585 residents

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
5.6%
Carpool
3.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
31.0%
Work from Home
8.0%
Other
51.6%

Based on 213 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Alaska statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $271

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Alaska at $271 (electricity about $131 , water and sewer about $45 ).

These are Alaska statewide averages, not a meter reading for Mountain. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Alaska's BEA cost-of-living index is 102.4 (Near Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Mountain is $1,467/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Alaska statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 35.2 / 100 (Very Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Alaska statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Mountain sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Mountain compares to similar-size Alaska cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Mountain (this city) 872 $62,188
Knik River 858 $100,417
Kwethluk 852 $48,056
Hoonah 894 $81,406
Primary sources on this page

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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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