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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Among the 30 largest places in Alaska, Chena Ridge has the lowest share of income going to rent (10.0%), followed by Steele Creek and Utqiag?vik. Click any column to sort; click a city for its guide.
Across the 30 places in Alaska that we cover, the median is 18.1% and the average 17.7%; the figure runs from 10.0% (Chena Ridge) to 24.4% (Fairbanks). That is a spread of 2.5 times between the two ends.
The first five are Chena Ridge, Steele Creek, Utqiag?vik, South Lakes, Sterling. A high or low position is not good or bad on its own: read it together with the other measures on the city pages. Use the Compare tab on each city page to see how two places differ across income, rent, commute and education, and check the county page for the local job market.
| # ⇅ | City ⇅ | County ⇅ | Yearly rent as share of income ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chena Ridge (unincorporated) | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 10.0% | 5,881 | $133,775 | $1,110 |
| 2 | Steele Creek (unincorporated) | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 12.1% | 5,928 | $121,364 | $1,223 |
| 3 | Utqiag?vik | North Slope Borough | 14.2% | 4,778 | $115,313 | $1,360 |
| 4 | South Lakes (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 14.4% | 6,180 | $98,141 | $1,178 |
| 5 | Sterling (unincorporated) | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 14.6% | 6,323 | $102,415 | $1,248 |
| 6 | Gateway (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 15.2% | 6,845 | $137,772 | $1,741 |
| 7 | Farmers Loop (unincorporated) | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 15.3% | 4,954 | $109,950 | $1,406 |
| 8 | Kenai | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 15.7% | 7,641 | $87,083 | $1,138 |
| 9 | Sitka city and | Sitka City and Borough | 15.8% | 8,368 | $101,727 | $1,341 |
| 10 | Tanaina (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 15.9% | 9,646 | $105,536 | $1,398 |
| 11 | North Lakes (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 17.0% | 10,223 | $101,679 | $1,441 |
| 12 | Juneau city and | Juneau City and Borough | 17.0% | 31,794 | $101,661 | $1,444 |
| 13 | Bethel | Bethel Census Area | 17.2% | 6,312 | $117,255 | $1,678 |
| 14 | Anchorage | Anchorage Municipality | 17.3% | 288,976 | $103,284 | $1,489 |
| 15 | Kalifornsky (unincorporated) | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 17.9% | 8,663 | $93,508 | $1,394 |
| 16 | Nikiski (unincorporated) | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 18.1% | 4,773 | $65,863 | $996 |
| 17 | Unalaska | Aleutians West Census Area | 18.5% | 4,556 | $131,964 | $2,034 |
| 18 | Palmer | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 18.7% | 6,268 | $72,201 | $1,125 |
| 19 | Butte (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 19.1% | 4,085 | $101,042 | $1,610 |
| 20 | Knik-Fairview (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 19.8% | 19,972 | $96,437 | $1,588 |
| 21 | Fishhook (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 19.8% | 5,819 | $111,375 | $1,837 |
| 22 | Ketchikan | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 19.9% | 8,078 | $85,275 | $1,417 |
| 23 | Homer | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 20.0% | 5,877 | $74,449 | $1,238 |
| 24 | Badger (unincorporated) | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 20.1% | 18,677 | $97,183 | $1,629 |
| 25 | Meadow Lakes (unincorporated) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 20.2% | 8,689 | $81,699 | $1,377 |
| 26 | Wasilla | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 20.6% | 9,720 | $67,234 | $1,153 |
| 27 | College (unincorporated) | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 20.8% | 11,924 | $83,895 | $1,454 |
| 28 | Kodiak | Kodiak Island Borough | 20.9% | 5,447 | $90,292 | $1,571 |
| 29 | Soldotna | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 21.7% | 4,485 | $56,280 | $1,020 |
| 30 | Fairbanks | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 24.4% | 32,083 | $73,534 | $1,496 |
Largest Cities · Cities With the Cheapest Rent · Cities With the Highest Household Income · Cities With the Lowest Unemployment · Cities in the Highest-Paying Counties · Most College-Educated Cities · Cities With the Most Homeowners · Cities With the Most Remote Work · Cities With the Shortest Commutes
Unincorporated places are census-designated places: they have no city government but are counted as communities. Figures describe the city itself.
Chena Ridge, with 10.0% (among the 30 largest places; ACS 2020–2024).
The 30 largest places in Alaska by population.