Kaktovik’s average commute is 4 minutes, below both Alaska’s towns (21 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a higher share of residents below the poverty line than Kaktovik. The biggest park or preserve is Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, at 665 acres. Kaktovik has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

269 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

BTI-a, 1998

Kaktovik’s story

76 years in pictures

Census counts: 46 in 1950, 283 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1998 and a map from 1955 on.

1950Kaktovik is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Kaktovik: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Kaktovik, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerBarrow Utils & Elec CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA

WaterNsbu - Kaktovik (Barter Is) water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Kaktovik’s trash rules yet

SchoolsNorth Slope Borough School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereAbsentee and Petition OfficeState of Alaska; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025

ZIP code9974799747 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 Kaktovik.

Natural hazards

Top of a very low hazard risk in Kaktovik: cold waves

The risk rating from FEMA in Kaktovik is 1 of 100. One declared disaster, in 2005, has brought federal aid to Kaktovik households. FEMA puts 83% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to cold waves, and 8% to inland flooding.

1risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland flooding

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageKaktovik’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters1 federal disaster · Paid out in Kaktovik Get ready9.8 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Schools

The schools Kaktovik’s kids attend

The public schools here belong to the North Slope Borough School District. Its one school is below. Kaktovik’s only public school teaches 63 students.

School	Level	Students	Letter
Harold Kaveolook SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12	Grades PK–12	63	C⁻

Full pageKaktovik’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsNorth Slope Borough School District Every school1 school · Harold Kaveolook School Questions“Are Kaktovik’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Health

Kaktovik stands out in Alaska and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent mental distress

Kaktovik: just over two in five adults sleep under 7 hours. Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Kaktovik. Two figures for adults here: 31% smoke cigarettes, 49% have obesity. CDC measures, 32 in all: Kaktovik beats Alaska on 1 and trails on 22.

	Kaktovik	Alaska towns	U.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)	31%	18%	19%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	31%	16%	14%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	49%	35%	35%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	22%	16%	17%

32 measures vs. Alaska

1 better9 too close to call22 worse

What stands out	Kaktovik	AK
Fewer adults who have had cancer	5.5%	7%
More adults facing food insecurity	35.2%	14.3%

2 of 3

care shortages: primary care, mental health

Full pageKaktovik’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearbyHospitals & doctors nearby How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than AK on 1 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Outdoors

5.7% of the land in Kaktovik is protected from building

5.7%conserved

5.7%

conserved · 38 of 665 acres

0.0 mi

of trails · 0 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge	—	665

Full pageKaktovik’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map0.0 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk665 acres · Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Conserved land5.7% conserved · 38 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Kaktovik?”

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Kaktovik

15pages on Kaktovik

The big questions

Schools1 school HealthBetter than AK on 1 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingWork & commute$94K median household income Natural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 1% of U.S. communities · cold waves

Out and about

Outdoors0 mi of trails · 6% conserved land PlacesLibraryHarold Kaveolook School/Community Library

The story

HistorySettled 1950 Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 27 residents

Day to day

NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 99747 Town SquareNeighbors

About Kaktovik

City in Alaska, United States

Kaktovik (; Inupiaq: Qaaktuġvik, IPA: [qaːktoʁvik]) is a city in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States. The population was 283 at the 2020 census.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area: 0.9 sq mi
Elevation: 36 ft
ZIP code: 99747

Questions about Kaktovik

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Kaktovik, AK a good place to live?

Kaktovik has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

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