Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska Income Statistics
Northwest Arctic Borough Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Northwest Arctic Borough Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in Alaska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $82,858 | $93,666 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $73,573 | $68,716 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 2.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.9% | 16.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.0% | 14.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough is about 12% lower than in Alaska. Income has been growing faster in Northwest Arctic Borough (3.8%/yr) than in Alaska (2.9%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Northwest Arctic Borough earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Alaska average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska grew by 44.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $82,858 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Northwest Arctic Borough
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.591 | 0.527 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,813 | $76,032 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $85,635 | $65,882 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -14.5% | 13.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Northwest Arctic Borough, it is 0.591, higher than Alaska's 0.527, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Women's income is about 14% more than men's income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $378,770 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska has narrowed from about 32% to -14% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $31,283 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 16.6% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.3% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 5 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 487 people are unemployed in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska.
The average commute time in Northwest Arctic Borough is 5 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Alaska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska has fallen from 20.0% to 16.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 15.5% in 2022.
Northwest Arctic Borough, AK Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Northwest Arctic Borough, AK is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,441 residents against a local median of 9,860. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Northwest Arctic Borough, AK an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 7% below the local median at 3.8%/yr against 4.1%/yr. Northwest Arctic Borough, AK has the 4th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arctic Borough, AK | 7,441 | $82,858 #2/6 | 3.8%/yr #4/6 | 16.6% #4/6 | 0.591 #3/6 |
| Nome Census Area, AK | 9,860 | $78,459 | 5.4%/yr | 16.7% | 0.599 |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 8,176 | $51,163 | 3.8%/yr | 19.7% | 0.597 |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 18,392 | $73,309 | 4.1%/yr | 15.8% | 0.610 |
| North Slope Borough, AK | 10,714 | $94,932 | 3.5%/yr | 7.5% | 0.499 |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 4,728 | $77,852 | 4.3%/yr | 10.5% | 0.565 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Alaska, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska.
How Rich Is Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
Northwest Arctic Borough has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $82,858, about 12% lower than the Alaska average of $93,666.
How has median household income changed in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska rose 45%, from $57,274 to $82,858. Over the same years, income here outpaced Alaska as a whole: +45% against +43%.
What was the median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska was $80,357, up 4% from $77,118 in 2022. The Alaska median that year was $90,366.
What was the median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska was $63,940. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $82,858.
Is it hard to find a job in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
Unemployment in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska is 16.6%, well above the Alaska rate of 5.5%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
The Gini coefficient in Northwest Arctic Borough is 0.591. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska has narrowed from about 32% to -14% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $31,283 since 2009.
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