#1Utqiaġvik
North Slope Borough · 4,640 peopleHazard risk grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #30 of 41 in AK
Utqiaġvik, #1 on this list · Photo: Andrei from New York City/Juneau, U.S.A. · CC BY 2.0Alaska rankings · Hazard risk
Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in Alaska
Utqiaġvik ranks first on hazard risk among Alaska’s 41 towns of 2,500+; 7 of the 41 grade A− or better on hazard risk nationally.
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). How grades work
#1A+
#2Ketchikan
Ketchikan Gateway Borough · 7,939 peopleHazard risk grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C+ · #24 of 41 in AK
#3Petersburg
unincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleHazard risk grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #1 of 41 in AK
All 41 towns
Hazard risk grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
41 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
2KetchikanKetchikan Gateway Borough · 7,939 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall C+ · #24 of 41
3Petersburgunincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #1 of 41
8Eielson AFBunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,155 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #32 of 41
9Farmers Loopunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 4,954 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #6 of 41
11FairbanksFairbanks North Star Borough · 31,468 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #38 of 41
12Collegeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 11,924 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #13 of 41
13Chena Ridgeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,881 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #15 of 41
14Steele Creekunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,928 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #5 of 41
16Badgerunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 18,677 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #33 of 41
17Fishhookunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 5,819 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #27 of 41
18Butteunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 4,085 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #19 of 41
19Mill Bayunincorporated, Kodiak Island Borough · 3,654 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #34 of 41
20Goldstreamunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,294 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #7 of 41
21Esterunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 2,752 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #25 of 41
22Farm Loopunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 2,894 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #12 of 41
23Tanainaunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 9,646 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #21 of 41
24AnchorageAnchorage Municipality · 287,155 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #26 of 41
27Gatewayunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,845 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #10 of 41
29North Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,223 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #22 of 41
30South Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,180 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #8 of 41
31Sterlingunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 6,323 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #9 of 41
32Knik-Fairviewunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 19,972 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #31 of 41
33WasillaMatanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,556 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #40 of 41
34SoldotnaKenai Peninsula Borough · 4,615 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #18 of 41
35Meadow Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 8,689 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #35 of 41
37Nikiskiunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 4,773 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #36 of 41
39Big Lakeunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 3,585 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #29 of 41
40Kalifornskyunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 8,663 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #17 of 41
41UnalaskaAleutians West Census Area · 4,306 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A− · #2 of 41
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Alaska town has the lowest natural-hazard risk?
Utqiaġvik (North Slope Borough) ranks first on hazard risk among 41 towns, with an A+; Ketchikan and Petersburg follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). 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 hazard risk grade (41 in Alaska). 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 SitkaBest towns for the outdoors41 towns · #1 AnchorageMost historic towns41 towns · #1 KetchikanTowns with the most civic life17 towns · #1 SewardTowns 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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