PlainCities

Ranking · Alaska

Fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking places in Alaska

Wasilla has the highest population change, 2020 to 2025 of Alaska's 26 ranked places (+16.5%); Cordova has the lowest (−7.9%). Ranked: places with 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census that are incorporated (the Census Bureau estimates only those each year).

Which are the fastest-growing places?

Fastest-growing places in Alaska, first to fifth: Wasilla (+16.5%), Houston (+14.9%), Homer (+14.6%), Palmer (+14.0%) and North Pole (+10.5%).

Fastest-growing places in Alaska, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
1 Wasillacity +16.5% 10,556Matanuska-Susitna Borough
2 Houstoncity +14.9% 2,267Matanuska-Susitna Borough
3 Homercity +14.6% 6,331Kenai Peninsula Borough
4 Palmercity +14.0% 6,710Matanuska-Susitna Borough
5 North Polecity +10.5% 2,477Fairbanks North Star Borough
6 Kenaicity +6.8% 7,924Kenai Peninsula Borough
7 Sewardcity +6.6% 2,892Kenai Peninsula Borough
8 Soldotnacity +6.2% 4,615Kenai Peninsula Borough
9 Bethelcity +4.8% 6,626Bethel Census Area
10 Craigcity +2.5% 1,062Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
11 Unalaskacity +1.2% 4,306Aleutians West Census Area
12 Akutancity +0.5% 1,591Aleutians East Borough
13 Nomecity −1.1% 3,653Nome Census Area

Source: Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · Census population estimates

Which are the fastest-shrinking places?

Fastest-shrinking places in Alaska, first to fifth: Cordova (−7.9%), Dillingham (−7.8%), Valdez (−7.4%), Kotzebue (−7.1%) and Utqiaġvik (−5.9%).

Fastest-shrinking places in Alaska, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
26 Cordovacity −7.9% 2,401Chugach Census Area
25 Dillinghamcity −7.8% 2,075Dillingham Census Area
24 Valdezcity −7.4% 3,681Chugach Census Area
23 Kotzebuecity −7.1% 2,876Northwest Arctic Borough
22 Utqiaġvikcity −5.9% 4,640North Slope Borough
21 Wrangellcity and borough −5.6% 2,007Wrangell City and Borough
20 Hooper Baycity −5.5% 1,297Kusilvak Census Area
19 Kodiakcity −5.3% 5,281Kodiak Island Borough
18 Fairbankscity −3.2% 31,468Fairbanks North Star Borough
17 Ketchikancity −3.0% 7,939Ketchikan Gateway Borough
16 Juneaucity and borough −2.0% 31,609Juneau City and Borough
15 Sitkacity and borough −1.6% 8,319Sitka City and Borough
14 Anchoragemunicipality −1.4% 287,155Anchorage Municipality

Source: Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · Census population estimates

How is this ranking made?

Each place's population change, 2020 to 2025 is read from the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base and its July 1, 2025 estimate. A place enters the ranking if it had 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census and is incorporated. Ties in the published figure share a rank. This is a measurement of one figure, not a judgment of a place.

Source: PlainCities ranking method applied to the Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections