GustavusDock, 2005
Gustavus’s story
109 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
- 1917Gustavus is settled
GustavusAK
Settled in 1917, this town now has 610 residents.
Population
610
2025 Census estimate · −6.9% since 2020
Median home value
$331K
Census ACS
Household income
$64K
median
Median age
50.9
years
Land area
57 sq mi
Is Gustavus a good place to live?
31% of residents are 65 or older in Gustavus, above both Alaska’s towns (13%) and U.S. towns (18%). Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a higher midpoint age than Gustavus. 47% of the land in Gustavus is conserved, above both Alaska’s towns (15%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest park or preserve is Glacier Bay Wilderness, at 1,053 acres. Gustavus has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
610 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Gustavus: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Gustavus, and how to reach them.
Internet2 providers88% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpGustavus Recycling CenterIn townOpenStreetMap
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 code9982699826 100%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 Gustavus.
Outdoors
In Gustavus, nearly a third of the land is conserved
9.6 miles of trail wind through 6 parks and preserves. For Gustavus, the trail density is 0.2 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves here: 6, covering 1,314 acres.
46.8%conserved
46.8%
conserved · 16,462 of 35,174 acres
9.6 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Glacier Bay Wilderness | — | 1,053 |
| 2. Tongass National Forest | — | 101 |
| 3. Pleasant/Lemusurier/Inian Islands Wilderness | — | 101 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Schools
The schools Gustavus’s kids attend
It has one school. The Chatham School District runs its public schools. Gustavus’ only public school teaches 51 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|
NCES · EDFacts
Who lives here
Gustavus is older than the Alaska average
Among residents in Gustavus, 20% are under 18. This Alaska town has lost 6.9% of its people since 2020, down to 610 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Alaska has nearly a third of adults 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more; here it is 34%.
50.9median age · AK 35.8
| Gustavus | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 20% | 24% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 28% | 29% |
GustavusAlaskaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school24%
Some college20%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
41% women, 59% men
About 142 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±7.8 points). Across Alaska, 47.5% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 90% are men (AK 47%).
| Gustavus | AK | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 4.2% | 13.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 15.8% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.6% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.1% | 15.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 6.6% | 14.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 17.3% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.5% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 17% | 4.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.7% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.4% | 28.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.2% | 24% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.3% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.4% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13% | 11.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 600, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Gustavus, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Gustavus’ peak summer temperature stands at 63°F.
72″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–35°
Spring29–48°
Summer45–63°
Fall34–48°
Sep 25
typical first frost
May 28
typical last frost
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Gustavus stands out in Alaska and nationally, with more of its adults who have high blood pressure
Only 2 of the 42 Alaska towns we compare have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Gustavus. 20% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in the town. Against the Alaska average, Gustavus comes out ahead on 3 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 9.
| Gustavus | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 32% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 68% | 79% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Alaska
3 better20 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Gustavus | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10% | 12.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 76.4% | 68% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9% | 5.7% |
Bartlett Regional Hospital
46.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Gustavus, mostly avalanches
In Gustavus, the natural-hazard score from FEMA is 40 of 100. 70% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from avalanches, followed by earthquakes at 17%. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 60% of U.S. communities.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesEarthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
A home in Gustavus sells for about $259K at the median
The share of households in Gustavus who are owner-occupiers: 82%.
$259Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gustavus
17pages on Gustavus
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Gustavus; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Gustavus residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Alaska.
Get outside
10 miles of trails in Gustavus
46.8% of the town is conserved land, across 6 parks and preserves.
1
Glacier Bay Wilderness1,053 acres
2
Tongass National Forest101 acres
3
Pleasant/Lemusurier/Inian Islands Wilderness101 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Gustavus
City in Alaska, United States
Gustavus (Tlingit: Wanachích T’aak Héen) (gus-TAY-vəs) is a second-class city in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 655, a 48% increase from the 442 recorded in the 2010 census, making it one of the fastest growing communities in Alaska.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1917
- Area
- 57 sq mi
- Elevation
- 10 ft
- ZIP code
- 99826
- Area code
- 99826
Questions about Gustavus
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gustavus, AK a good place to live?
Gustavus has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.