County · Alaska
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska. Ketchikan Gateway Borough had 13,549 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.9% since 2020, while Alaska grew 0.5%. It holds 3 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 02130.
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is the county of the Ketchikan, AK micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
13,549
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 13,948 · ACS 2020-2024: 13,768
Median household income
$92,885
±$5,657 (90% margin)
Alaska: $92,788
Median home value
$393,300
±$19,106 (90% margin)
Alaska: $352,900
Median gross rent
$1,505
±$94 (90% margin)
Alaska: $1,419
How many people live in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 13,948 residents in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. The Census Bureau estimates 13,549 for July 1, 2025, down 2.9% since 2020, while Alaska grew 0.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 13,768 over 4,857 square miles of land.
| Measure | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Alaska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,768 | 735,706 | −32 |
| Households | 5,732±132 | 270,533 | +335 |
| Average household size | 2.34±0.05 | 2.61 | −0.17 |
| Housing units | 6,698±37 | 328,491 | +297 |
Ketchikan Gateway Borough's population since 2000
From 14,070 in 2000 to 13,549 in 2025: down 3.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Ketchikan Gateway Borough?
Ketchikan Gateway Borough holds 3 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Ketchikan with 7,939 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ketchikan Gateway Borough?
The median resident of Ketchikan Gateway Borough is 41.0 years old; 20.2% are under 18 and 17.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 60.4%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 12.3%. 8.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Alaska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0±0.8 | 35.8 | +1.3 |
| Under 18 years | 20.2%±0.2 pts | 24.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.7%±0.5 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.4% | 7.3% | +0.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 60.4%±1.0 pts | 57.7% | −3.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.3 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.9%±0.6 pts | 6.4% | +0.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 12.3%±1.2 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 12.1%±1.6 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.0%±1.0 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.6%±1.2 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.6%±1.3 pts | 10.7% | – |
| With a disability | 13.8%±1.6 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.2%±1.5 pts | 11.0% | −2.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.7%±1.0 pts | 93.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.4%±2.4 pts | 31.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.6%±1.6 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.5%±1.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough earn?
Half of Ketchikan Gateway Borough's 5,732 households earn less than $92,885 a year (±$5,657), against $92,788 in Alaska. In 2015-2019 it was $89,506 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Alaska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $92,885±$5,657 | $92,788 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $114,287±$6,014 | $118,985 | – |
| Per capita income | $48,971±$2,479 | $46,573 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.7%±1.7 pts | 10.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.7%±3.7 pts | 12.2% | −6.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.3%±1.7 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.0%±2.0 pts | 91.9% | – |
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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough?
Owners occupy 68.6% of Ketchikan Gateway Borough's occupied homes and renters 31.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $393,300 by its owner (±$19,106). The median renter pays $1,505 a month including utilities, and 39.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Alaska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $393,300±$19,106 | $352,900 | +$36,522 |
| Median gross rent | $1,505±$94 | $1,419 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.3%±6.1 pts | 35.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,150±$134 | $2,229 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.6%±2.7 pts | 66.8% | +7.0 pts |
| Housing units | 6,698±37 | 328,491 | +297 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.5%±2.7 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 53.2%±2.3 pts | 63.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.1%±0.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.6%±1.9 pts | 1.7% | – |
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 many new homes is Ketchikan Gateway Borough building?
Builders took permits for 63 new housing units across Ketchikan Gateway Borough in 2025 (27 single-family), 4.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ketchikan Gateway Borough get to work?
69.1% of Ketchikan Gateway Borough's workers drive alone and 6.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.
| Measure | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Alaska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.3%±2.4 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1%±1.0 pts | 5.9% | −2.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 69.1%±3.4 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.4%±2.6 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.6%±1.1 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Walked | 6.9%±2.0 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.0%±1.5 pts | 9.7% | +3.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.6 min±1.5 | 19.4 min | no clear change |
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 are Ketchikan Gateway Borough's census tracts?
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $72,664 (Tract 3) to $110,060 (Tract 4).
| Tract 1.0102130000101 | 2,592±183 | $107,586 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1.0202130000102 | 576±139 | $93,281 |
| Tract 202130000200 | 4,361±230 | $95,954 |
| Tract 302130000300 | 3,730±233 | $72,664 |
| Tract 402130000400 | 2,509±155 | $110,060 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Ketchikan Gateway Borough compare with Alaska's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 7th of 30 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 19th of 30 |
| Residents per square mile | 7th of 30 |
| Median household income | 8th of 30 |
| Median home value | 7th of 30 |
| Median gross rent | 3rd of 30 |
| Poverty rate | 19th of 27 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10th of 27 |
| Median age | 11th of 30 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough 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.