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Alaska - Point Lay
Alaska›North Slope Borough
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Point LayAK

The town, settled in 1947, counts 390 residents.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain
Photo of Point Lay

Point Lay, AK · Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain · Source ↗

Population
390
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$119K
Census ACS
Household income
$104K
median
Median age
16.5
years
Land area
32 sq mi

Is Point Lay a good place to live?

Point Lay’s average commute is 6 minutes, below both Alaska’s towns (21 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Point Lay. Point Lay has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

390 people, and everyone knows the way

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

Getting set up

Moving to Point Lay: who provides what

Point Lay is unincorporated, so North Slope Borough and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerBarrow Utils & Elec CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterNsbu - Point Lay water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesNorth Slope BoroughNorth Slope Borough provides services here
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 code9975999759 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 Point Lay.

Schools

The schools Point Lay’s kids attend

Its one school is below. The public schools here belong to the North Slope Borough School District. 75 students attend Point Lay’s public school.

SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Kali SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12Grades PK–1275D
Full pagePoint Lay’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsNorth Slope Borough School DistrictEvery school1 school · Kali SchoolQuestions“Are Point Lay’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Natural hazards

Very low risk in Point Lay, with cold waves at the top

Expected losses in Point Lay break down as 83% from cold waves and 8% from inland flooding. FEMA expects less storm and flood damage here than in 99% of U.S. communities.

1risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
1Very low riskLowerHigher
Cold wavesInland flooding
Full pagePoint Lay’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery low riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters6 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready9.8 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Health

A larger share of adults report frequent mental distress in Point Lay than in most of Alaska or the rest of the country

Among 42 Alaska towns, just one has a higher share of adults who feel lonely than Point Lay. For adults here, the share who say their health is fair or poor is 29%. No town among the 42 in Alaska we compare has a higher share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Point Lay. The town beats the Alaska average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 25.

Point LayAlaska townsU.S. towns
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)30%16%14%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)47%35%35%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)23%16%17%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)40%32%33%
32 measures vs. Alaska
2 better5 too close to call25 worse
What stands outPoint LayAK
Fewer adults who have had cancer4.4%7%
Fewer adults with high cholesterol28.4%33.4%
More adults facing food insecurity35.8%14.3%
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
Full pagePoint Lay’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearbyHospitals & doctors nearbyHow adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor healthEvery CDC estimateBetter than AK on 2 of 32

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Point Lay

13pages on Point Lay
The big questions
Schools1 schoolHealthBetter than AK on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingWork & commute$104K median household incomeNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 1% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
PlacesLibraryKali Community/School Library
The story
HistorySettled 1947
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 99759Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Point Lay; the nearest are

Ilisagvik CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Barrow179.1 mi$5,260 in-state tuition

About 3 of every 100 Point Lay residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Alaska.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

About Point Lay

CDP in Alaska, United States

Point Lay (Kali in Inupiaq- "Mound") is a census-designated place (CDP) in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 330, up from 189 in 2010.

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

Area
32 sq mi
Elevation
26 ft
ZIP code
99759
Area code
907

Questions about Point Lay

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Point Lay, AK a good place to live?

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