Glenn Massay Theater, South Side, 2016
Gateway’s story
Gateway in pictures
Census counts: 2,952 in 2000, 5,748 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2016 and 2 maps from 1979 on.
Explore the history →
GatewayAK
A town of 6,845. More miles of trail than almost any town in Alaska.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Malcolm Manners · CC BY 2.0
Population
6,845
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$446K
Census ACS
Household income
$138K
median
Median age
33.8
years
Land area
22 sq mi
TownGrade
B
#10 of 41 in AK
What should you know before moving to Gateway?
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 91% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. Overall it grades B, 10th of 41 graded towns in Alaska. Residents are healthier than 81% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and its schools outperform 77% of the state's. Gateway’s trail density is 2.4 miles per square mile, above both Alaska’s towns (0.4) and U.S. towns (0.4). On incomes, just 2 of Alaska’s 68 towns do better. The biggest park or preserve is Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge, at 1,598 acres.
What makes Gateway stand out
Where Gateway beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
45 miles of trails in Gateway
10.4% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
3
Central Park1 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Gateway grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alaska), ordered by how far Gateway is from typical.
Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listD−Open →HealthMat-Su Regional Medical Center 1.4 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $446K, 4.4 years of the Anchorage metro’s $101K median household incomeCOpen →Jobs & income$138K median household income; 4.5% below the poverty lineB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6 of 20; 0.5% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
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 Gateway: who provides what
Gateway is unincorporated, so Matanuska-Susitna Borough and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerMatanuska Electric Assn24.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWasilla Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers89% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMatanuska-Susitna BoroughMatanuska-Susitna 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 codes99645, 9965499645 70% · 99654 30%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 Gateway.
Gateway has more trail for its size than nearly any town in Alaska, has a shorter frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns and has less tooth loss than most of Alaska.
OutdoorsA−
Gateway has set aside 10.4% of its land for conservation
At 2.4 miles of trail per square mile, it ranks #2 of 40 Alaska towns.
45 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
#2for trails in AK
10.4%
conserved · 1,244 of 11,960 acres
45 mi
of trails · 2.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area | 4.1 mi | 485 |
| 2. Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge | 0.3 mi | 1,598 |
| 3. Central Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
Gateway earns an A− for schools
Its public schools are run by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Colony High School, with 1,046 students.
77%of AK districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colony Middle SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 771 | B+ |
| Colony High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,046 | B− |
| Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 468 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AK on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Earthquakes leads a very high hazard risk in Gateway
One flood insurance claim has been paid in Gateway since 2012.
91risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
1
paid flood claims since 2012
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA−
Gateway earns an A− for health
Its widest gap with Alaska is tooth loss: 8% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 13.5% statewide. Against the 3,759 U.S. towns with household incomes like Gateway’s, it is less healthy than 61%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
71% of adults had a checkup this year in Gateway, where Alaska’s towns sit at 68% and U.S. towns at 79%. 7.4% of adults have diabetes in Gateway. Gateway beats the Alaska average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
81%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Gateway | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 68% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 7.4% | 8.8% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Alaska
13 better18 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Gateway | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8% | 13.5% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.2% | 14.3% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 64.8% | 68% |
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
1.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
83rd
percentile among AK towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Who lives here
Compared with most of Alaska and the rest of the country, more of Gateway’s residents are under 18
34% of Gateway residents are under 18. Children under 18 are 34% of residents (24% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 18% of residents (25% statewide). 9.5% of Gateway residents are 65 or older.
33.8median age · AK 35.8
| Gateway | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 34% | 24% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 9.5% | 13% | 18% |
| Median age | 33.8 years | 37 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 27% | 29% |
GatewayAlaskaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school23%
Some college24%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3 points. Across Alaska, 47.5% of residents are women. Median age: women 34.8, men 32.3.
| Gateway | AK | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 20% | 13.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.7% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.4% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.7% | 15.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 19.1% | 14.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.2% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.5% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.9% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 2.6% | 4.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.3% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 22.8% | 28.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.9% | 24% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 15% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.3% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.7% | 11.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Climate
Gateway has snowy winters and pleasant summers
The Matanuska Exp Farm weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 127 days, shorter than in 96% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 67.9°, cooler than in 99% of U.S. towns; January nights average 6.7°. The Matanuska Exp Farm weather station records that 50 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 79% of Alaska places with climate records.
Gateway has cold, snowy winters and cool summers, with very little rain. Gateway’s July high is 68°F.
50″snow a winter
| Gateway | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 68°F | 66°F | 85°F |
| January low | 7°F | 7°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–25°
Spring28–47°
Summer48–66°
Fall27–43°
Sep 20
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C
Homes in Gateway sell for about $510K
The median rent in Gateway is $1,741 a month.
$510Kmedian sale price
| Gateway | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,741 a month | $1,402 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 82% | 68% | 73% |
Market temperature
34
days on market
100%
sale-to-list price
16
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gateway
17pages on Gateway
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Gateway
About 6 of every 100 Gateway residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Alaska.
About Gateway
CDP in Alaska, United States
Gateway is a census-designated place (CDP) in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,748 at the 2020 census, up from 5,552 in 2010. Gateway is the fifth-most populated CDP in the borough.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 22 sq mi
- Elevation
- 200 ft
Gateway’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Gateway.
South LakesKnik-FairviewFarm LoopWasillaGateway
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AK rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway | #10 | B | C | — | A− | A− |
| South Lakes | #8 | B | C+ | — | A− | B+ |
| Knik-Fairview | #31 | C | C | — | A− | B− |
| Farm Loop | #12 | B | C+ | — | A− | A− |
| Wasilla | #40 | C− | C+ | D | A− | C+ |
Gateway, South Lakes, Knik-Fairview and Farm Loop report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Gateway with a neighbor →
Questions about Gateway
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gateway, AK a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Gateway grades B overall, better than 58% of U.S. towns and #10 of 41 in Alaska. It grades A− for health and A− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Gateway, AK expensive?
The typical home is worth about $446,000, 12% above 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.