#1Seward
Kenai Peninsula Borough · 2,892 peopleCivic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall B− · #16 of 41 in AK
Seward, #1 on this list · Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown · Public domainAlaska rankings · Civic life
Towns with the most civic life in Alaska
Seward ranks first on civic life among Alaska’s 17 towns of 2,500+; 12 of the 17 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.
The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work
#1A+
#2Homer
Kenai Peninsula Borough · 6,331 peopleCivic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C+ · #28 of 41 in AK
#3Sitka
Sitka City and Borough · 8,319 peopleCivic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #3 of 41 in AK
All 17 towns
Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
17 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
5Petersburgunincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #1 of 41
6KetchikanKetchikan Gateway Borough · 7,939 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #24 of 41
7SoldotnaKenai Peninsula Borough · 4,615 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #18 of 41
11FairbanksFairbanks North Star Borough · 31,468 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #38 of 41
15AnchorageAnchorage Municipality · 287,155 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #26 of 41
16KotzebueNorthwest Arctic Borough · 2,876 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #37 of 41
17UnalaskaAleutians West Census Area · 4,306 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #2 of 41
Not ranked
24 towns without a civic life grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- Badger Fairbanks North Star Borough · 18,677 people
- Big Lake Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 3,585 people
- Butte Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 4,085 people
- Chena Ridge Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,881 people
- College Fairbanks North Star Borough · 11,924 people
- Eielson AFB Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,155 people
- Ester Fairbanks North Star Borough · 2,752 people
- Farm Loop Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 2,894 people
- Farmers Loop Fairbanks North Star Borough · 4,954 people
- Fishhook Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 5,819 people
- Gateway Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,845 people
- Goldstream Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,294 people
- Kalifornsky Kenai Peninsula Borough · 8,663 people
- Knik-Fairview Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 19,972 people
- Meadow Lakes Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 8,689 people
- Mill Bay Kodiak Island Borough · 3,654 people
- Nikiski Kenai Peninsula Borough · 4,773 people
- North Lakes Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,223 people
- Palmer Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,710 people
- South Lakes Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,180 people
- Steele Creek Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,928 people
- Sterling Kenai Peninsula Borough · 6,323 people
- Tanaina Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 9,646 people
- Utqiaġvik North Slope Borough · 4,640 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Alaska town has the most civic life?
Seward (Kenai Peninsula Borough) ranks first on civic life among 17 towns, with an A+; Homer and Sitka follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (17 in Alaska). 24 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alaska page.
Go deeper
All Alaska rankings →More Alaska lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live41 towns · #1 PetersburgBest small towns33 towns · #1 PetersburgMost affordable towns41 towns · #1 KotzebueSafest towns18 towns · #1 UnalaskaTowns with the best schools41 towns · #1 PetersburgHealthiest towns41 towns · #1 Chena RidgeBest towns for jobs & income41 towns · #1 Steele CreekMost walkable towns41 towns · #1 SitkaTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikBest towns for the outdoors41 towns · #1 AnchorageMost historic towns41 towns · #1 KetchikanTowns with the least snow35 towns · #1 KetchikanDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns35 towns · #1 ValdezDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters41 towns · #1 SitkaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers41 towns · #1 GoldstreamDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes41 towns · #1 GatewayDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes39 towns · #1 KotzebueDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns19 towns · #1 WasillaDescribed, no letters
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