#1Kotzebue
Northwest Arctic Borough · 2,876 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.4 years of area income·Overall C− · #37 of 41 in AK
Kotzebue, #1 on this list · Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Eggert · Public domainAlaska rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in Alaska
Kotzebue ranks first on cost of living among Alaska’s 41 towns of 2,500+; 0 of the 41 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1B+
Goldstream
unincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,294 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.3 years of area income·Overall B · #7 of 41 in AK
#3Utqiaġvik
North Slope Borough · 4,640 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.3 years of area income·Overall C · #30 of 41 in AK
All 41 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 6 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
41 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
2Goldstreamunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,294 peopleB+3.3 years of area income·Overall B · #7 of 41
T5Petersburgunincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleB5.1 years of area income·Overall A · #1 of 41
T7Big Lakeunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 3,585 peopleB−3.0 years of area income·Overall C · #29 of 41
T7Nikiskiunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 4,773 peopleB−3.9 years of area income·Overall C− · #36 of 41
10Esterunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 2,752 peopleB−2.9 years of area income·Overall C+ · #25 of 41
11Sterlingunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 6,323 peopleB−4.5 years of area income·Overall B · #9 of 41
13Steele Creekunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,928 peopleB−3.9 years of area income·Overall B+ · #5 of 41
14Tanainaunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 9,646 peopleB−3.3 years of area income·Overall C+ · #21 of 41
15Chena Ridgeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,881 peopleC+4.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #15 of 41
17South Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,180 peopleC+3.8 years of area income·Overall B · #8 of 41
18Kalifornskyunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 8,663 peopleC+4.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #17 of 41
T19Meadow Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 8,689 peopleC+3.2 years of area income·Overall C− · #35 of 41
22Farmers Loopunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 4,954 peopleC+3.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #6 of 41
23North Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,223 peopleC+3.6 years of area income·Overall C+ · #22 of 41
24Farm Loopunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 2,894 peopleC+4.3 years of area income·Overall B · #12 of 41
25Badgerunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 18,677 peopleC+3.5 years of area income·Overall C · #33 of 41
28Collegeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 11,924 peopleC3.4 years of area income·Overall B · #13 of 41
29Knik-Fairviewunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 19,972 peopleC3.4 years of area income·Overall C · #31 of 41
30Gatewayunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,845 peopleC4.4 years of area income·Overall B · #10 of 41
31Fishhookunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 5,819 peopleC4.1 years of area income·Overall C+ · #27 of 41
32FairbanksFairbanks North Star Borough · 31,468 peopleC3.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #38 of 41
35Butteunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 4,085 peopleC−3.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #19 of 41
40Mill Bayunincorporated, Kodiak Island Borough · 3,654 peopleD−5.4 years of area income·Overall C · #34 of 41
41Eielson AFBunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,155 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #32 of 41
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in Alaska?
Kotzebue (Northwest Arctic Borough) ranks first on cost of living among 41 towns, with a B+; Goldstream and Utqiaġvik follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). 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 cost of living 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 PetersburgSafest 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 Ketchikan and Petersburg and UtqiaġvikBest 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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