City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Wales, AK

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

286
Residents
$38,125
Median income
$96,900
Median home
$1,533
Median rent (state)

Wales - the verdict

Nationally, Wales sits in the 6th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

6th
percentile, household income
9th
percentile, home value
61st
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: Wales, AK

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 286 residents in Wales, a small town within Alaska. The typical household in Wales brings in $38,125 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.3%. Home values in Wales run a median of $96,900, and the median resident age is 20.7 years. About 0.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 49.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Alaska tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Alaska at 102.4 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,533 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alaska run around $271, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 34.1 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

286 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$38,125 /yr

Poverty 21.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Wales compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 6% higher than other cities
Home value 9% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% 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

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

Alaska-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Wales near the bottom of Alaska's cities

Among the 228 Alaska cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Wales ranks #217 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wales only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#201 of 215
7th percentile in Alaska
Median Gross Rent
#104 of 228
49th percentile in Alaska
Median Home Value
#159 of 200
21st percentile in Alaska
Poverty Rate
#57 of 225
75th percentile in Alaska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#217 of 228
0th 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.

6thIncome percentile

6th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wales's home value compares nationally

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

$96,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 91% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Wales $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 - Wales, AK Wales, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wales, 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 Wales, AK median $38,125/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%
Wales, 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 Wales, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 0.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.2%

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

Population
286
Median Income
$38,125
Median Home Value
$96,900
Median Age
20.7
Poverty Rate
21.3%
Labor force participation
49.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
0.0%

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 →
160 residents162 residents164 residents166 residents168 residents 202020212022202320242025 167 residents 163 residents ▼ -2.4%
Wales's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
0.0%
Carpool
21.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
30.8%
Work from Home
7.7%
Other
40.3%

Based on 104 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 Wales sits in

Cost of Living Index
102.4
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,533/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
34.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alaska

Nulato
284 people
Point Lay
288 people
Mekoryuk
290 people
Tyonek
291 people
Shaktoolik
293 people
Clam Gulch
294 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wales's 286 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dyess, AR
286 people
Hood, CA
286 people
Merino, CO
286 people
Raiford, FL
286 people
Easton, IL
286 people
Secor, IL
286 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wales's $38,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fredonia (Biscoe), AR
$38,125 median income
Marquette, IA
$38,125 median income
Lebanon, KS
$38,125 median income
Wickliffe, KY
$38,125 median income
St. Marie, MT
$38,125 median income
Lodgepole, NE
$38,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wales, 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 Wales, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 7.7% 92.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 7.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 92.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% 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 Wales 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
Wales (this city) 286 $38,125
Nulato 284 $52,143
Point Lay 288 $92,000
Mekoryuk 290 $28,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wales, AK?

What is the population of Wales, AK? +

The population of Wales, AK stands at 286 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Wales, the typical household earns $38,125 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wales? +

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

A typical home in Wales is worth $96,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.