City · Alaska
Selawik, Alaska
Selawik, city, in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. Selawik had 729 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 10.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 809 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 412 (±86). GEOID 0268230.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
729
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 809 · ACS 2020-2024: 412 ±86
Median household income
$52,500
±$11,105 (90% margin)
Alaska: $92,788
Median home value
$76,700
±$47,123 (90% margin)
Alaska: $352,900
Median gross rent
$633
±$95 (90% margin)
Alaska: $1,419
Where is Selawik and what county is it in?
Selawik is a city in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. It covers 2.0 square miles of land, 409 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Selawik, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 729 people lived in Selawik on July 1, 2025, down 10.3% since 2020, while Alaska grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 809 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 412 (±86).
| Measure | Selawik | Northwest Arctic Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 412 ±86 | 7,441 | −380 |
| Households | 88 ±23 | 1,825 | −67 |
| Average household size | 4.68 ±0.77 | 3.81 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 130 ±24 | 2,744 | −59 |
Selawik's population since 2000
From 772 in 2000 to 729 in 2025: down 5.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Selawik as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Selawik?
The median resident of Selawik is 17.9 years old; 50.5% are under 18 and 9.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 94.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.2%.
| Measure | Selawik | Northwest Arctic Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 17.9 ±3.1 | 28.8 | −4.9 |
| Under 18 years | 50.5% ±4.8 pts | 37.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 9.2% ±3.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Male | 60.9% ±5.0 pts | 52.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 2.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±1.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 94.2% ±4.4 pts | 80.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±3.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 42.8% ±9.6 pts | 25.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.5% ±1.9 pts | 5.6% | – |
| With a disability | 12.9% ±3.9 pts | 11.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.3% ±7.9 pts | 18.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 67.4% ±11.7 pts | 85.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 2.9% ±2.9 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.7% ±2.3 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.6% ±8.8 pts | 87.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Selawik earn?
Half of Selawik's 88 households earn less than $52,500 a year (±$11,105), against $84,018 in Northwest Arctic Borough and $92,788 in Alaska. In 2015-2019 the median was $38,459 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,041 after inflation. 36.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Selawik | Northwest Arctic Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,500 ±$11,105 | $84,018 | +$14,041 |
| Mean household income | $66,131 ±$11,985 | $104,843 | – |
| Per capita income | $13,917 ±$2,492 | $30,256 | +$3,904 |
| People below the poverty line | 36.7% ±12.5 pts | 17.9% | −18.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 45.7% ±14.4 pts | 25.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 58.0% ±13.4 pts | 35.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7% ±4.6 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.0% ±9.7 pts | 88.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Selawik?
Owners occupy 65.9% of Selawik's occupied homes and renters 34.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $76,700 by its owner (±$47,123). The median renter pays $633 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Selawik | Northwest Arctic Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $76,700 ±$47,123 | $199,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $633 ±$95 | $1,350 | −$337 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 23.3% ±20.4 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.9% ±11.9 pts | 64.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.1% ±11.9 pts | 35.6% | – |
| Housing units | 130 ±24 | 2,744 | −59 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±33.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±46.7 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.4% ±5.8 pts | 81.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±17.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±17.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.2% ±4.8 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±17.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 96.6% ±4.9 pts | 64.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Selawik work and get to work?
The average trip to work takes 5.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 36.5%.
| Measure | Selawik | Northwest Arctic Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.1% ±7.9 pts | 58.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 36.5% ±12.3 pts | 16.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 0.0% ±29.8 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.0% ±29.8 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 11.8% ±10.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 27.9% ±16.2 pts | 44.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.9% ±9.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 5.9 min ±1.6 | 5.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Selawik?
No census tract lies mostly in Selawik; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1Northwest Arctic Borough | 4,457 | $63,750 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Selawik) · Census block assignment files
How does Selawik compare with other places in Alaska?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Selawik is the 11,649th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 38th-most populous of 149 in Alaska.
Selawik is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 38th | 149 |
Selawik's figures with every place in Alaska (CSV)
Every place in Alaska, sortable · Compare Selawik with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Selawik?
23 of the 56 figures for Selawik on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Selawik are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Selawik.