Northwest Arctic Borough, AK Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,425 | 728,075 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 0.2 | 1.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.21% | -0.17% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 25.7 | 36.0 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,817 | 265,860 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Northwest Arctic Borough grew by 2.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 7,611 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Northwest Arctic Borough has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,357 | $90,338 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.95% | 2.84% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 16.3% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough is about 11% lower than in Alaska.
Housing
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | — | $303,164 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,336 | $1,387 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.5% | 66.6% | 65.1% |
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Northwest Arctic Borough spend about 12 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 48 hours, about 2.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 5.8 | 16.2 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 11.5 | 32.3 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 48 | 135 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $1,491 | $4,177 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 8.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | — | 4,865 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 39 | 583 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Alaska:
Nome Census Area (5.3 min), Skagway Municipality (5.3 min), Wrangell City and Borough (5.6 min).
Slowest:
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (23.7 min), Fairbanks North Star Borough (17.5 min), Anchorage Municipality (17.2 min).
The average commute time in Northwest Arctic Borough is 6 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Alaska.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Northwest Arctic Borough has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 27.6% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 3.91 | 2.63 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Alaska:
Haines Borough (0.4), Juneau City and Borough (0.3), Denali Borough (0.3).
Lowest:
Kusilvak Census Area (0.1), Bethel Census Area (0.2), Northwest Arctic Borough (0.2).
Health
Northwest Arctic Borough has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.5 | 79.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 21.6% | 15.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 32.6% | 22.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Alaska:
Juneau City and Borough (0.8), Petersburg Borough (0.8), Chugach Census Area (0.8).
Lowest:
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area (0.8), Lake and Peninsula Borough (0.8), Northwest Arctic Borough (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska.
What is the population of Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
The population of Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska is 7,425, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
The population density of Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska is 0.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
The median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska is $80,357, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the unemployment rate in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
The unemployment rate in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska is 16.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.