City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Ruby, AK

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

180
Residents
$35,208
Median income
$72,900
Median home
$1,126
Median rent (state)

Ruby - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ruby places in the 5th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

5th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
31st
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: Ruby, AK

180 people live in Ruby, Alaska - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Ruby households earn a median of $35,208 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.3%. Typical homes in Ruby are valued around $72,900, and the median resident age is 52.0 years. 3.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 44.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Ruby's yearly average temperature at 26.3°F.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,126 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 61.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

180 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$35,208 /yr

Poverty 26.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Ruby compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% 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 Ruby'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.

5thIncome percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ruby's home value compares nationally

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

$72,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Ruby $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 - Ruby, AK Ruby, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ruby, 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 Ruby, AK median $35,208/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%
Ruby, 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 Ruby, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 3.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 44.0%

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

Population
180
Median Income
$35,208
Median Home Value
$72,900
Median Age
52.0
Poverty Rate
26.3%
Labor force participation
44.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
3.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
26.3°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
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 →
130 residents135 residents140 residents 202020212022202320242025 138 residents 131 residents ▼ -5.1%
Ruby's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
37.3%
Carpool
5.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
28.8%
Work from Home
6.8%
Other
22.0%

Based on 59 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 Ruby sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,126/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
61.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Arctic
177 people
White Mountain
185 people
Old Harbor
186 people
Port Alsworth
174 people
Seldovia
174 people
Allakaket
173 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ruby's 180 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Faunsdale, AL
180 people
Glenwood, AL
180 people
Three Rocks, CA
180 people
Burtons Bridge, IL
180 people
Andersonville, IN
180 people
Brunsville, IA
180 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ruby's $35,208 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fisher, LA
$35,208 median income
Clarksdale, MS
$35,210 median income
Mount Vernon, GA
$35,202 median income
Van Buren, ME
$35,200 median income
Dushore, PA
$35,192 median income
Jefferson, SC
$35,227 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ruby, 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 Ruby, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 1.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 93.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.0% 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 Ruby 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
Ruby (this city) 180 $35,208
Arctic 177 $39,750
White Mountain 185 $56,563
Old Harbor 186 $31,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ruby, AK?

What is the population of Ruby, AK? +

Ruby, AK has a population of 180 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Ruby is $35,208 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ruby? +

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

The median home value in Ruby is $72,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Ruby? +

The average annual temperature in Ruby runs 26.3°F. 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.