Fort William H. Seward · National Register of Historic Places
Haines’s story
144 years in pictures
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1882Haines is settled
HainesAK
A town of 1,757, settled in 1882. Public schools that outperform most of Alaska.
2 bordering townsMap →
Fort William H. Seward · Photo: Mike Quach · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,757
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$331K
+1.6% in a year
Household income
$87K
median
Median age
50.1
years
Is Haines a good place to live?
The best of Haines’ subject grades are an A for schools and the outdoors and an A− for walkability. Haines’ July high is 65°F, close to Alaska’s towns (66°F) and below U.S. towns (85°F). On cost of living, just 5 of Alaska’s 65 towns do better. 32% of the land in Haines is conserved, above both the Alaska town median (15%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). On the outdoors, just 4 of Alaska’s 69 towns do better. Haines has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Fort William H. Seward and Government Indian School. Haines has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Haines stand out
Where Haines beats most towns.
Haines Borough School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Haines Elementary | PK–8 | 153 |
| Haines High School | 9–12 | 78 |
| Haines Home School | K–12 | 24 |
SchoolsA
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
OutdoorsA
32.2% conserved land
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 83% of U.S. towns
7.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
How Haines grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alaska), ordered by how far Haines is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.8 of 20; 4.8% of households have no carA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 22% of U.S. communities; avalanches tops the listA−Open →HealthHealthier than 76% of U.S. towns; Bartlett Regional Hospital 73.6 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →Jobs & income$87K median household income; 5.2% below the poverty lineB−Open →
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.
ClimateSnowy winters, 65° summer afternoons, 164″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Haines: who provides what
Haines is unincorporated, so Haines Borough and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerAlaska Power and Telephone41.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHaines Borough water system7 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers84% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesHaines BoroughHaines 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 code9982799827 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 Haines.
SchoolsA
Haines’ public schools outperform 94% of Alaska districts
Its public schools are run by the Haines Borough School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
94%of AK districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haines ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 153 | B+ |
| Haines High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 78 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AK on state tests and graduation
32.2%conserved
32.2%
conserved · 4,221 of 13,110 acres
12 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
Haines stands out in Alaska and nationally, with the median age higher than most
Haines’ median age is 50.1 years. Among 42 Alaska towns, just 2 have a higher share of residents 65 or older than Haines. 34% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Haines.
50.1median age · AK 35.8
| Haines | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 years | 36.6 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 13% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 28% | 29% |
HainesAlaskaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school28%
Some college26%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.8 points. Across Alaska, 47.5% of residents are women. Among residents 35 to 44, 75% are women (AK 47%).
| Haines | AK | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.2% | 13.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 15.9% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 2.3% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.5% | 15.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.9% | 14.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15.7% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 19.2% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.4% | 4.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.2% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.8% | 28.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.6% | 24% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.2% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.7% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.6% | 11.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,800, single groups can be off by several points
HealthA−
Fewer of Haines’ adults feel lonely than in the typical Alaska or U.S. town
30% of Haines adults feel lonely. Haines beats the Alaska average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 14% of Haines adults report frequent mental distress.
76%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Haines | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 68% | 79% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 32% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Alaska
8 better21 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Haines | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.3% | 10% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.2% | 12.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.6% | 7% |
Bartlett Regional Hospital
73.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Avalanches leads a low hazard risk in Haines
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 78% of U.S. communities.
22risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesEarthquakesLandslides
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Haines has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Haines has chilly, snowy winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. The January low in Haines is 18°F.
164″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–30°
Spring33–48°
Summer50–64°
Fall35–46°
Oct 7
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade A−
Haines’ typical home value is about $331K
The typical Haines home is worth about $331,000, up 1.6% in a year, 17% below the Alaska typical home. Only 4 of the 42 Alaska towns we compare have a lower median rent than Haines.
$331KZillow home value
| Haines | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,087 a month | $1,406 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Haines$331K
Alaska$398K
+1.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Safety
Crime reported in Haines
Haines's reported crime rate is well below Alaska's. Only 1 of the 19 Alaska towns we compare have a lower property crime rate than Haines. 5 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Haines | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.4 per 1,000 residents | 9.1 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.4 per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Haines2.4
Alaska7.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Haines2.4
Alaska19.3
U.S.15.5
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
5
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Nearby attractions
All 4 attractions →Glacier Bay National Preserve and 3 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Haines. Close and well known come first.
13 mi National PreserveGlacier Bay National Preserve740K visitors a year
22 mi LighthouseEldred Rock Light
14 mi National Historical ParkKlondike Gold Rush National Historical Park1.5M visitors a year
in town MuseumHammer Museum (Haines, AK)Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Glacier Bay National Preserve: Janquen at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Eldred Rock Light: United States Coast Guard, Public domain · Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hammer Museum (Haines, AK): Mycota at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Haines
17pages on Haines
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 94% of AK districts · 3 schoolsSafety2.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than AK on 8 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$331K typical home · up 1.6% in a yearWork & commuteB−$87K median household incomeNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 22% of U.S. communities · avalanches
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Haines; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Haines residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Alaska.
Haines’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Haines.
How the neighbors grade
Haines has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Haines reports no FBI crime data of its own. Lutak and Mud Bay aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Haines with a neighbor →
Questions about Haines
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Haines, AK a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Alaska.
Is Haines, AK expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.