City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Point Lay, AK

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

288
Residents
$92,000
Median income
$117,000
Median home
$1,930
Median rent (state)

Point Lay - the verdict

Nationally, Point Lay sits in the 72nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

72nd
percentile, household income
16th
percentile, home value
80th
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: Point Lay, AK

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 288 residents in Point Lay, a small town within Alaska. Point Lay households earn a median of $92,000 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.3%. Typical homes in Point Lay are valued around $117,000, and the median resident age is 18.0 years. Educational attainment runs 7.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,930 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alaska's average monthly utility costs around $271 (state average). The average commute for Point Lay workers runs 5.1 minutes, with 16.0% driving alone and 4.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 54.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

288 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$92,000 /yr

Poverty 6.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Point Lay compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 72% higher than other cities
Home value 16% pricier than other cities
Median rent 80% 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 Point Lay 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 Point Lay toward the top of Alaska's cities

Among the 228 Alaska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Point Lay ranks #27 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Point Lay only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#42 of 215
80th percentile in Alaska
Median Gross Rent
#27 of 228
82nd percentile in Alaska
Median Home Value
#137 of 200
32nd percentile in Alaska
Poverty Rate
#147 of 225
34th percentile in Alaska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#156 of 228
31st 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.

72ndIncome percentile

72nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Point Lay's home value compares nationally

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

$117,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 84% 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. Point Lay $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 - Point Lay, AK Point Lay, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Point Lay, 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 Point Lay, AK median $92,000/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%
Point Lay, 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 Point Lay, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 7.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.7%

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

Population
288
Median Income
$92,000
Median Home Value
$117,000
Median Age
18.0
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Labor force participation
54.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
7.8%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
5.1 minutes
Drive Alone
16.0%
Carpool
42.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
29.8%
Work from Home
4.3%
Other
7.3%

Based on 94 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 Point Lay sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,930/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
54.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Mekoryuk
290 people
Wales
286 people
Tyonek
291 people
Nulato
284 people
Shaktoolik
293 people
Clam Gulch
294 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Point Lay's 288 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Castleberry, AL
288 people
Yuma Proving Ground, AZ
288 people
Gold Hill, CO
288 people
Broadlands, IL
288 people
Hanley Falls, MN
288 people
Pilger, NE
288 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Point Lay's $92,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Northfield, MN
$92,000 median income
Palm Valley, TX
$92,000 median income
Carlyss, LA
$92,004 median income
Waterloo, IL
$92,005 median income
Unionville, NC
$92,009 median income
Salida, CA
$91,990 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Point Lay, 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 Point Lay, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 6.9% 89.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 6.9% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 1.4% American Indian 89.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.0% 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 Point Lay 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
Point Lay (this city) 288 $92,000
Mekoryuk 290 $28,750
Wales 286 $38,125
Tyonek 291 $57,917
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Point Lay, AK?

What is the population of Point Lay, AK? +

Point Lay, AK has a population of 288 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Point Lay, AK? +

Median annual household income in Point Lay runs $92,000, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Point Lay? +

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

Homes in Point Lay carry a median value of $117,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.