Rainey's Cabin · National Register of Historic Places
College’s story
100 years in pictures
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1926College is settled
CollegeAK
This town of 11,924 people was settled in 1926.
6 bordering townsMap →
Constitution Hall · Photo: Durkeeco · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
11,924
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$298K
Census ACS
Household income
$84K
median
Median age
32.7
years
TownGrade
B
#13 of 41 in AK
Is College a good place to live?
Good on most counts; one lags. Health is where it shines (A−) — residents are healthier than 78% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. What counts against it is cost of living (C): the typical home is worth about $298K, 3.4 years of the Fairbanks metro’s $88K median household income. It lags on hazard risk as well: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than three quarters of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. Overall, that makes a B, good for 13th of 41 in Alaska. Set against the rest, it does better than 56% of U.S. towns. College is home to University of Alaska Fairbanks. This Alaska town has 4 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Rainey's Cabin and Constitution Hall.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FEMA National Risk Index · National Register of Historic Places.
What makes College stand out
Where College beats most towns.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 80% of U.S. towns
15.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
32 measures vs. Alaska
10 better22 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | College | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.9% | 13.5% |
HealthA−
Beats AK on 10 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
OutdoorsA−
#1 most trails in AK
Get outside
98 miles of trails in College
3.1% of the town is conserved land, across 6 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How College grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alaska), ordered by how far College is from typical.
Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.9 of 20; 5.9% of households have no carA−Open →HealthFairbanks Memorial Hospital 3.3 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsCOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsBOpen →Jobs & income$84K median household income; 6.5% below the poverty lineBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3% conserved landA−Open →HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to College: who provides what
College is unincorporated, so Fairbanks North Star Borough and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerGolden Valley Elec Assn31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCollege Utilities CorporationNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers94% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesFairbanks North Star BoroughFairbanks North Star Borough provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Alaska you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereAbsentee and Petition OfficeState of Alaska; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes99709, 9977599709 96% · 99775 4%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in College.
OutdoorsA−
Trail density in College is higher than in most of Alaska or the rest of the country
Goldstream Public Use Area, at 384 acres with 5.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. 3.1% of the land in College is conserved. 98 miles of trail in 6 parks and preserves. More trails than any other town in Alaska.
#1for trails in AK
| College | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 5.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.1% | 15% | 4.3% |
3.1%
conserved · 375 of 12,107 acres
98 mi
of trails · 5.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge | 6 mi | 249 |
| 2. Goldstream Public Use Area | 5.3 mi | 384 |
| 3. Pearl Creek Park | 5.1 mi | 113 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
On state tests, College’s schools beat 56% of Alaska districts
The largest public high school is West Valley High School, with 782 students. Three of its 10 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. Its public schools are run by the Yukon-Koyukuk School District.
56%of AK districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl Creek ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 388 | A |
| Raven SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 3,687 | C |
| Watershed Charter SchoolTop results in townGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 200 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AK on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
College’s grade for health is an A−
31% of College adults have high blood pressure, against 32% in Alaska’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. In College, two thirds of adults had a checkup this year. Among adults locally, 8.4% have diabetes and 12% report frequent physical distress.
78%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| College | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 67% | 68% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.4% | 8.8% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 34% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Alaska
10 better22 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | College | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.9% | 13.5% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.1% | 14.3% |
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
3.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
76th
percentile among AK towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Top of a high hazard risk in College: earthquakes
Flood insurance has paid out on 12 claims in College since 1980. 54% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from earthquakes, followed by cold waves at 20%.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesCold wavesWildfire
12
paid flood claims since 1980
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In College, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
The College Obsy weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 111 days, shorter than in 98% of U.S. towns. January nights average -11.5°, colder than in 100% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 71.3°.
College’s January low stands at -12°F, below both the Alaska town median (7°F) and the median of U.S. towns (22°F). The midsummer high for College comes to 71°F. About 64 inches of snow falls in a winter.
64″snow a winter
| College | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | -12°F | 7°F | 22°F |
| July high | 71°F | 66°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter-8–6°
Spring20–43°
Summer48–69°
Fall17–33°
Sep 6
typical first frost
May 18
typical last frost
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer middle-aged adults than Alaska overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 30% of residents (37% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 31% of residents (25% statewide). 40% of College adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more. Its age of the median resident comes in at 32.7 years.
32.7median age · AK 35.8
| College | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 years | 37 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 40% | 27% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 13% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 22% | 24% | 22% |
CollegeAlaskaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school19%
Some college28%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate23%
Women and men · all residents
44% women, 56% men
About 128 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.3 points). Across Alaska, 47.5% of residents are women.
| College | AK | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.6% | 13.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 14.5% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 16.7% | 15.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.1% | 14.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 6.7% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.4% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5% | 4.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.5% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.9% | 28.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.6% | 24% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.2% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.3% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 22.6% | 11.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C
A home in College sells for about $396K at the median
On the market in College: a median 51 days to sell. In College, the rent at the middle of the market is $1,454 a month. For households locally, the share who live in a home they own is 61%.
$396Kmedian sale price
| College | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 61% | 69% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,454 a month | $1,402 a month | $1,185 a month |
Market temperature
51
days on market
100.1%
sale-to-list price
14
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 6 attractions →Pioneer Park and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around College. Close and well known come first.
2 mi Park & preservePioneer Park
in town MuseumUniversity of Alaska Museum of the North7 mi Ski areaMoose Mountain Ski Resort98 runs · 1,311 ft vertical17 mi Ski areaSki Land (Mt Aurora)45 runs · 1,084 ft vertical
in town GardenGeorgeson Botanical GardenSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Pioneer Park: Enrico Blasutto, CC BY-SA 4.0 · University of Alaska Museum of the North: Maureen amerune, CC BY 2.0 · Georgeson Botanical Garden: Abalg, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about College
17pages on College
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of College
University of Alaska FairbanksUniversity or college · Public · CollegeIn town$8,736 in-state tuition
College town 15 of every 100 College residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Alaska.
College town
15% of College is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Landmarks
4 places in College on the National Register of Historic Places.
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College’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with College.
Farmers LoopFairbanksSouth Van HornChena RidgeGoldstreamEsterCollege
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AK rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College | #13 | B | C | — | B | A− |
| Farmers Loop | #6 | B+ | C+ | — | B | A− |
| Fairbanks | #38 | C− | C | D | B | B+ |
| South Van Horn | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Chena Ridge | #15 | B− | C+ | — | B | A |
| Goldstream | #7 | B | B+ | — | B | A |
| Ester | #25 | C+ | B− | — | B | A |
College, Farmers Loop, Chena Ridge, Goldstream and Ester report no FBI crime data of their own. South Van Horn isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare College with a neighbor →
Questions about College
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is College, AK a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. College grades B overall, better than 56% of U.S. towns and #13 of 41 in Alaska. It grades A− for health and B for schools, and has the most trail per square mile in the state. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is College, AK expensive?
The typical home is worth about $298,000, 25% below the Alaska typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is College, AK known for?
Its 98 miles of trails, 5.2 per square mile, are the densest network of any Alaska town.