Alaska›Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Knik RiverAK

A town of 883.

Population

883

Census survey, 2020–24

Is Knik River a good place to live?

Knik River’s average trip to work is 36 minutes, where Alaska’s towns sit at 21 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Among 42 Alaska towns, just 1 have a higher share of households owning their home than Knik River. 66% of the land in Knik River is conserved, where Alaska’s towns sit at 15% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. The biggest place to walk is Knik Public Use Area, 22,282 acres with 46.2 miles of trail. Knik River has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

883 people, and everyone knows the way

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

Nearby towns

Palmer · 10 mi Wasilla · 17 mi Anchorage · 22 mi

ButteAnchorageKnik River

Getting set up

Moving to Knik River: who provides what

Knik River is unincorporated, so Matanuska-Susitna Borough and regional agencies provide most services.

WaterHeritage ParkNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet1 providers37% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & county servicesMatanuska-Susitna BoroughMatanuska-Susitna Borough provides services here

SchoolsMatanuska-Susitna 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 code9964599645 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 Knik River.

Outdoors

Conserved land covers nearly a third of Knik River

62 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The trail density in Knik River is 0.7 miles per square mile.

65.5%conserved

65.5%

conserved · 38,039 of 58,068 acres

62 mi

of trails · 0.7 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Knik Public Use Area	46.2 mi	22,282

Full pageKnik River’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map62 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk46.2 miles of trail · Knik Public Use Area Conserved land65.5% conserved · 38,039 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Knik River?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazards

Avalanches leads a very high hazard risk in Knik River

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities.

86risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

AvalanchesEarthquakes

Full pageKnik River’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery high risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters16 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready1.3 events a year, on average · Ready for avalanches

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Knik River

Knik River has cold, snowy winters and cool summers, with very little rain. Knik River’s July high is 68°F.

50″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter9–25°

Spring28–47°

Summer48–66°

Fall27–43°

Sep 20

typical first frost

May 14

typical last frost

Full pageKnik River’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 68°, January lows 7°Rain & snow50″ of snow a winter · 14 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and nowThen and now

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

How healthy Knik River is

Knik River beats the Alaska average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 73% of adults had a checkup this year in Knik River. Only 4 of the 42 Alaska towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Knik River.

	Knik River	Alaska towns	U.S. towns
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	73%	68%	79%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	32%	35%	36%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)	31%	32%	33%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	16%	18%	16%

32 measures vs. Alaska

8 better21 too close to call3 worse

What stands out	Knik River	AK
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	9.9%	13.5%
Fewer adults facing food insecurity	11%	14.3%
More adults with arthritis	28.4%	23.3%

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

10.8 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

Full pageKnik River’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer adults sleeping under 7 hours Hospitals & doctors nearby10.8 miles to an ER · Mat-Su Regional Medical Center How adults are doingFewer adults lacking emotional support Every CDC estimateBetter than AK on 8 of 32

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

Who lives here

An age mix much like Alaska’s

No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Alaska average. 20% of Knik River residents are under 18. 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across Alaska.

40.5median age · AK 35.8

	Knik River	Alaska towns	U.S. towns
Under 18	20%	24%	22%
Aged 65 or older	17%	13%	18%
Median age	40.5 years	36.6 years	40.5 years

Knik RiverAlaskaUnited States

AKU.S.

Ages · share of residents

16%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma17%

High school27%

Some college18%

Associate’s10%

Bachelor’s25%

Graduate4%

Women and men · all residents

43% women, 57% men

About 134 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.3 points). Across Alaska, 47.5% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Knik River
	Knik River	AK	U.S.
Under 10	13.7%	13.2%	11.6%
10 to 17	6.5%	10.9%	10.3%
18 to 24	9.3%	9.2%	9.1%
25 to 34	14.2%	15.4%	13.7%
35 to 44	14.2%	14.2%	13.2%
45 to 54	10.1%	11.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	15.5%	11.9%	12.7%
65 to 74	13.1%	9.2%	10.2%
75 and older	3.5%	4.6%	7%
No diploma	16.9%	6.4%	10.4%
High school	27.1%	28.9%	26%
Some college	17.8%	24%	19.1%
Associate’s	9.5%	9.1%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	24.6%	19.8%	21.6%
Graduate	4.2%	11.8%	14.1%