City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

South Lakes, AK

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

6,132
Residents
$89,632
Median income
$367,700
Median home
$1,631
Median rent (state)

South Lakes - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, South Lakes places in the 71st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

71st
percentile, household income
74th
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: South Lakes, AK

South Lakes is a small town in Alaska, home to 6,132 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in South Lakes brings in $89,632 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.6%. South Lakes's housing stock carries a median value of $367,700, and the median resident age is 33.0 years. 23.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.0% 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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,631 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alaska's average monthly utility costs around $271 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 97.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

6,132 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$89,632 /yr

Poverty 12.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does South Lakes compare to other US cities?

Where South Lakes sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 71% higher than other cities
Home value 74% 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

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 South Lakes'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.

71stIncome percentile

71st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How South Lakes's home value compares nationally

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

$367,700 26th percentile more affordable than 26% 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%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. South Lakes $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 - South Lakes, AK South Lakes, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Lakes, 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 South Lakes, AK median $89,632/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%
South Lakes, 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 South Lakes, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.0%

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

Population
6,132
Median Income
$89,632
Median Home Value
$367,700
Median Age
33.0
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Labor force participation
58.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.1%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
6.4%
Other
3.8%

Based on 2,872 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 South Lakes 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

Palmer
6,141 people
Bethel
6,313 people
Chena Ridge
5,927 people
Steele Creek
5,861 people
Homer
5,750 people
Gateway
6,716 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Lakes's 6,132 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Zuni Pueblo, NM
6,132 people
Pontoon Beach, IL
6,131 people
Branford Center, CT
6,130 people
Laurence Harbor, NJ
6,130 people
Oceanport, NJ
6,130 people
Rib Mountain, WI
6,134 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Lakes's $89,632 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bells, TX
$89,635 median income
Clarkston Heights-Vineland, WA
$89,628 median income
Kaumakani, HI
$89,637 median income
Falmouth, ME
$89,625 median income
Thorp, WA
$89,625 median income
Lake Jackson, TX
$89,623 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Lakes, 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 South Lakes, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.1% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.9% White 83.1% Black or African American 1.7% Asian 1.1% American Indian 3.0% Native Hawaiian 2.0% Some other race 1.7% Two or more races 7.4% 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 South Lakes 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
South Lakes (this city) 6,132 $89,632
Palmer 6,141 $70,550
Bethel 6,313 $109,718
Chena Ridge 5,927 $140,722
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Lakes, AK?

What is the population of South Lakes, AK? +

6,132 people live in South Lakes, AK according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South Lakes, AK? +

South Lakes households earn a median of $89,632 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Lakes? +

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

The median home value in South Lakes is $367,700, 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 Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.