Grass on the roof helps keep the home warm in, 1980
North Pole’s story
73 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1980.
- 1953North Pole is settled
North PoleAK
A town of 2,477, settled in 1953.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Population
2,477
2025 Census estimate · +10.5% since 2020
Typical home
$335K
+5.2% in a year
Household income
$92K
median
Median age
28.2
years
Land area
4 sq mi
Is North Pole a good place to live?
The best of North Pole’s subject grades are an A− for health and an A for the outdoors; the weakest is a D for hazard risk. North Pole’s January low is -16°F, below both the Alaska town median (7°F) and the median of U.S. towns (22°F). Only 1 of the 42 Alaska towns we compare have a lower median age than North Pole. North Pole’s trail density is 1.9 miles per square mile, where Alaska’s towns sit at 0.4 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Only 6 of Alaska’s 69 towns score higher on the outdoors. North Pole has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
How North Pole grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alaska), ordered by how far North Pole is from typical.
Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →SafetyC−Open →HealthBassett Ach (Ft Wainwright) 9.4 miles awayA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.5 of 20; 2.7% of households have no car; 3.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Jobs & income$92K median household income; 4.9% below the poverty lineBOpen →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors8 miles of trails; 23% conserved landAOpen →History2 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life2.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market62 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 28.2; 29% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to North Pole: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in North Pole, and how to reach them.
PowerGolden Valley Elec Assn31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNorth Pole UtilitiesNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNorth Pole Waste Transfer SiteIn 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 code9970599705 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 North Pole.
SafetyC−
North Pole sees more crime per resident than 82% of U.S. towns
The violent crime rate in North Pole is 6.2 per 1,000 residents.
18%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| North Pole | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6.2 per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 22.5 per 1,000 residents | 9.1 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
North Pole6.2
Alaska7.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
North Pole22.5
Alaska19.3
U.S.15.5
18th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
16
violent crimes reported in 2025
58
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB
On state tests, North Pole’s schools beat 56% of Alaska districts
Its public schools are run by the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is North Pole High School, with 695 students.
56%of AK districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Pole Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 631 | B |
| North Pole High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 695 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AK on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
On CDC estimates, North Pole is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns
North Pole beats the Alaska average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 64% of North Pole adults had a checkup this year. Only 2 of the 42 Alaska towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than North Pole.
77%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| North Pole | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 64% | 68% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 7.3% | 8.8% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 32% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 32% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Alaska
11 better19 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | North Pole | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.5% | 13.5% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.2% | 5.7% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 62.9% | 68% |
Bassett Ach (Ft Wainwright)
9.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in North Pole, with earthquakes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 81% of U.S. communities. Since 1991, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in North Pole.
81risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesCold wavesWildfire
3
paid flood claims since 1991
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
More children than Alaska overall
Children under 18 are 37% of residents (24% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 25% of residents (37% statewide). 7.8% of residents are 65 or older in North Pole. North Pole has grown 11% since 2020, to 2,477 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
28.2median age · AK 35.8
| North Pole | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 7.8% | 13% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 29% | 28% | 29% |
North PoleAlaskaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
28%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school28%
Some college28%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
44% women, 56% men
About 127 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±5.2 points). Across Alaska, 47.5% of residents are women.
| North Pole | AK | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 27.5% | 13.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.9% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.1% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 22.4% | 15.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 17.8% | 14.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 3.8% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 3.6% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 5.9% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 1.9% | 4.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.5% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.6% | 28.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 28.1% | 24% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.4% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.4% | 11.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,500, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsA
North Pole has set aside 23.3% of its land for conservation
7.7 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
23.3%conserved
23.3%
conserved · 606 of 2,601 acres
7.7 mi
of trails · 1.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Morning Star Park | 0.1 mi | 10 |
| 2. 5th Street Park | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
In North Pole, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
North Pole has cold, snowy winters and cool summers, with very little rain. North Pole’s July high is 73°F.
54″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter-12–4°
Spring20–45°
Summer49–70°
Fall17–32°
Sep 5
typical first frost
May 18
typical last frost
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C
Homes in North Pole are worth about $335K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical North Pole home is worth about $335,000, up 5.2% in a year, 16% below the Alaska typical home.
$335KZillow home value
| North Pole | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 56% | 69% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,304 a month | $1,406 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
North Pole$335K
Alaska$398K
Market temperature
62
days on market
+5.2%
value change, 1 year
5
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 6 attractions →Pioneer Park and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around North Pole. Close and well known come first.
14 mi Park & preservePioneer Park
16 mi MuseumUniversity of Alaska Museum of the North22 mi Ski areaMoose Mountain Ski Resort98 runs · 1,311 ft vertical20 mi Ski areaSki Land (Mt Aurora)45 runs · 1,084 ft vertical
16 mi GardenGeorgeson Botanical GardenSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Pioneer Park: Enrico Blasutto, CC BY-SA 4.0 · University of Alaska Museum of the North: Maureen amerune, CC BY 2.0 · Georgeson Botanical Garden: Abalg, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about North Pole
20pages on North Pole
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 56% of AK districts · 5 schoolsSafetyC−6.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than AK on 11 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$335K typical home · up 5.2% in a yearWork & commuteB$92K median household incomeNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 81% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of North Pole; the nearest are
About 6 of every 100 North Pole residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Alaska.
About North Pole
City in Alaska, United States
North Pole is a small city in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States. Incorporated in 1953, it is part of the Fairbanks metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 2,243, up from 2,117 in 2010. Despite its name, the city is about 1,700 miles (2,700 km) south of Earth's geographic North Pole and 125 miles (201 km) south of the Arctic Circle.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1953
- Area
- 4.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 482 ft
- ZIP code
- 99705
- Area code
- 907
North Pole’s neighbors
One town shares a border with North Pole.
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AK rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Pole | — | — | C | C− | B | A− |
| Badger | #33 | C | C+ | — | B | B+ |
North Pole has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Badger reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare North Pole with a neighbor →
Questions about North Pole
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is North Pole, AK expensive?
That is 3.8 years of the area's median household income ($88,267 across the Fairbanks-College, AK metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is North Pole, AK known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Pheonix Copley and Intuition.