City profile · Alaska · Census ACS 2023

Whittier, AK

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

471
Residents
$57,188
Median income
$83,500
Median home
$1,631
Median rent (state)

Whittier - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Whittier lands in the 31st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

31st
percentile, household income
4th
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: Whittier, AK

Whittier is a small town in Alaska, home to 471 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Whittier households earn a median of $57,188 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 20.0%. Whittier's housing stock carries a median value of $83,500, and the median resident age is 29.8 years. About 30.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 66.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits). NOAA puts Whittier's yearly average temperature at 41.1°F with 197.3 inches of precipitation per year and 268.2 inches of snowfall.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,631 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alaska run around $271, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 97.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

471 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alaska

Median Household Income

$57,188 /yr

Poverty 20.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

102.4 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alaska average

How does Whittier compare to other US cities?

Here's how Whittier stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 4% 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 Whittier'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.

31stIncome percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Whittier's home value compares nationally

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

$83,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% 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. Whittier $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 - Whittier, AK Whittier, AK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Whittier, 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 Whittier, AK median $57,188/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%
Whittier, 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 Whittier, AK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.1%

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

Population
471
Median Income
$57,188
Median Home Value
$83,500
Median Age
29.8
Poverty Rate
20.0%
Labor force participation
66.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
41.1°F
Annual Precipitation
197.3"
Annual Snowfall
268.2"

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 →
240 residents250 residents260 residents270 residents280 residents 202020212022202320242025 277 residents 249 residents ▼ -10.1%
Whittier'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 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
39.9%
Carpool
15.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
27.9%
Work from Home
15.9%
Other
0.9%

Based on 208 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 Whittier 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

Kiana
471 people
Angoon
467 people
Thorne Bay
475 people
New Stuyahok
466 people
Chevak
464 people
Gambell
464 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Whittier's 471 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sparkman, AR
471 people
Ellsworth, MN
471 people
Wellsburg, NY
471 people
Bourneville, OH
471 people
Forestville CDP (Schuylkill County), PA
471 people
Grapeville, PA
471 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Whittier's $57,188 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bondville, IL
$57,188 median income
Marietta, IL
$57,188 median income
Losantville, IN
$57,188 median income
Rosedale, IN
$57,188 median income
Milton, KY
$57,188 median income
Middle River, MN
$57,188 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Whittier, 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 Whittier, AK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 47.6% 29.5% 9.1% 8.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.4% White 47.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 29.5% American Indian 4.7% Native Hawaiian 9.1% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 8.1% 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 Whittier 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
Whittier (this city) 471 $57,188
Kiana 471 $66,719
Angoon 467 $45,938
Thorne Bay 475 $61,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AK NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Whittier, AK?

What is the population of Whittier, AK? +

Whittier, AK has a population of 471 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Whittier is $57,188 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Whittier? +

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

Homes in Whittier carry a median value of $83,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Whittier? +

The average annual temperature in Whittier runs 41.1°F, 197.3 inches of precipitation, and 268.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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 Editorial

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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.