Census-designated place · Alaska
South Lakes, Alaska
South Lakes, census-designated place, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. South Lakes had 6,180 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±578). GEOID 0272135.
Residents, 2020-2024
6,180
±578 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,229
Median household income
$98,141
±$12,124 (90% margin)
Alaska: $92,788
Median home value
$377,500
±$22,018 (90% margin)
Alaska: $352,900
Median gross rent
$1,178
±$79 (90% margin)
Alaska: $1,419
Where is South Lakes and what county is it in?
South Lakes is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It covers 7.8 square miles of land, 670 residents per square mile in 2020.
South Lakes is in the Anchorage, AK metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in South Lakes, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts South Lakes's population at 6,180 (±578). The 2020 Census counted 5,229 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; South Lakes is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | South Lakes | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,180 ±578 | 112,988 | – |
| Households | 2,108 ±196 | 39,869 | – |
| Average household size | 2.89 ±0.20 | 2.77 | – |
| Housing units | 2,302 ±193 | 51,170 | – |
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 South Lakes?
The median resident of South Lakes is 34.2 years old; 24.6% are under 18 and 11.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.9%.
| Measure | South Lakes | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 ±2.9 | 36.7 | – |
| Under 18 years | 24.6% ±3.1 pts | 25.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.8% ±2.3 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Male | 49.5% ±3.2 pts | 52.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.1% ±2.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.8% ±4.5 pts | 75.7% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±1.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±1.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.9% ±2.7 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.3% ±1.6 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.7% ±2.0 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.6% ±2.4 pts | 13.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.1% ±2.9 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.5% ±3.0 pts | 11.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.9% ±2.2 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.1% ±4.5 pts | 24.4% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.0% ±1.9 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.7% ±6.4 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8% ±2.6 pts | 2.8% | – |
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 South Lakes earn?
Half of South Lakes's 2,108 households earn less than $98,141 a year (±$12,124), against $94,031 in Matanuska-Susitna Borough and $92,788 in Alaska. 7.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | South Lakes | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $98,141 ±$12,124 | $94,031 | – |
| Mean household income | $120,602 ±$10,352 | $115,954 | – |
| Per capita income | $43,375 ±$3,612 | $42,386 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 7.6% ±4.0 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.9% ±8.3 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.9% ±4.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.4% ±1.5 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.3% ±2.0 pts | 93.2% | – |
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 South Lakes?
Owners occupy 71.0% of South Lakes's occupied homes and renters 29.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $377,500 by its owner (±$22,018). The median renter pays $1,178 a month including utilities, and 42.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | South Lakes | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $377,500 ±$22,018 | $346,600 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,178 ±$79 | $1,299 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.1% ±13.5 pts | 41.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,257 ±$144 | $2,112 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.0% ±5.6 pts | 77.2% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 29.0% ±5.6 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Housing units | 2,302 ±193 | 51,170 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.7% ±3.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.4% ±5.9 pts | 83.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.9% ±1.5 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.2% ±3.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.0% ±1.7 pts | 3.8% | – |
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 South Lakes work and get to work?
77.0% of South Lakes's workers drive alone and 7.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.2%.
| Measure | South Lakes | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.0% ±4.2 pts | 60.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% ±1.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 77.0% ±5.8 pts | 71.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.3% ±4.5 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 2.1% ±2.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.4% ±3.1 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.8 min ±2.8 | 34.8 min | – |
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 South Lakes?
1 census tract lies mostly in South Lakes, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 10.04Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 5,738 | $104,423 |
| Tract 11Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 8,374 | $126,806 |
| Tract 10.03Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 4,318 | $109,861 |
| Tract 8Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 5,517 | $58,028 |
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 South Lakes) · Census block assignment files
How does South Lakes compare with other places in Alaska?
South Lakes ranks 23rd of 69 places in Alaska with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 19th | 71 |
| Residents per square mile | 7th | 71 |
| Median household income | 23rd | 69 |
| Per capita income | 40th | 71 |
| Median home value | 14th | 66 |
| Median gross rent | 40th | 62 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd | 57 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45th | 69 |
| Median age | 58th | 71 |
| Owner-occupied share | 35th | 68 |
| Work from home | 34th | 50 |
| Travel time to work | 21st | 69 |
South Lakes's figures with every place in Alaska (CSV)
Every place in Alaska, sortable · Compare South Lakes 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 South Lakes?
15 of the 57 figures for South Lakes 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 South Lakes 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' school search.