City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Unalaska, AK

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

4,430
Residents
$114,286
Median income
$448,700
Median home
$1,385
Median rent (state)

Unalaska - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Unalaska places in the 85th percentile for household income and the 95th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

85th
percentile, household income
81st
percentile, home value
53rd
percentile, median rent
95th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Unalaska, AK

Unalaska is a small town in Alaska, home to 4,430 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Unalaska households earn a median of $114,286 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.4%. Home values in Unalaska run a median of $448,700, and the median resident age is 38.7 years. Educational attainment runs 18.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 82.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Unalaska (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Unalaska reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 214.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,385 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alaska run around $271, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Unalaska report an average commute of 6.3 minutes, with 51.2% driving alone and 7.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 21.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

4,430 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$114,286 /yr

Poverty 3.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Unalaska compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 85% higher than other cities
Home value 81% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% pricier than other cities
Safety 95% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Alaska, Unalaska ranks #1 of 20 Alaska cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Unalaska against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alaska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alaska-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Unalaska's strongest outlier among Alaska cities

Among the 200 Alaska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Unalaska ranks #7 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Unalaska only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#9 of 215
96th percentile in Alaska
Median Gross Rent
#127 of 228
42nd percentile in Alaska
Median Home Value
#7 of 200
97th percentile in Alaska
Poverty Rate
#174 of 225
23rd percentile in Alaska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#105 of 228
54th 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.

85thIncome percentile
95thSafety percentile

85th percentile nationally for median household income · 95th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Unalaska's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Unalaska's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 71 Avg. percentile National median
Unalaska's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Unalaska's home value compares nationally

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

$448,700 19th percentile more affordable than 19% 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%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Unalaska $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 - Unalaska, AK Unalaska, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Unalaska, 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 Unalaska, AK median $114,286/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%
Unalaska, 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 Unalaska, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 82.3%

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

Population
4,430
Median Income
$114,286
Median Home Value
$448,700
Median Age
38.7
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Labor force participation
82.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
214.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
118.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
95.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,100 residents4,150 residents4,200 residents4,250 residents4,300 residents4,350 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,254 residents 4,306 residents ▲ +1.2%
Unalaska's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 5
2021 4
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
6.3 minutes
Drive Alone
51.2%
Carpool
9.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
29.4%
Work from Home
7.5%
Other
2.1%

Based on 3,039 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 Unalaska sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,385/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
21.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Soldotna
4,448 people
Nikiski
4,656 people
Utqiaġvik
4,850 people
Farmers Loop
4,887 people
Valdez
3,911 people
Butte
3,905 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Unalaska's 4,430 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wayland, MI
4,430 people
Devine, TX
4,430 people
Lebanon, IL
4,431 people
La Verkin, UT
4,429 people
Dewey-Humboldt, AZ
4,428 people
Newport, NC
4,428 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Unalaska's $114,286 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Piney Point, MD
$114,271 median income
Jenkintown, PA
$114,306 median income
Leland, MI
$114,250 median income
Burleigh, NJ
$114,340 median income
Edgewood, WA
$114,342 median income
Skaneateles, NY
$114,355 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Unalaska, 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 Unalaska, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 22.9% 47.3% 7.0% 12.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.6% White 22.9% Black or African American 5.4% Asian 47.3% American Indian 2.6% Native Hawaiian 2.2% Some other race 7.0% Two or more races 12.6% 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 Unalaska 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
Unalaska (this city) 4,430 $114,286
Soldotna 4,448 $62,984
Nikiski 4,656 $63,023
Utqiaġvik 4,850 $89,038
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Unalaska, AK?

What is the population of Unalaska, AK? +

4,430 people live in Unalaska, AK according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Unalaska runs $114,286, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Unalaska? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Unalaska; 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.

Is Unalaska, AK safe? +

Unalaska has a total crime rate of 214.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Unalaska, AK? +

A typical home in Unalaska is worth $448,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.