The Town FilesHomer, Alaska
City in Kenai Peninsula Borough · population 5,522 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $388,400
- Household income
- $74,449
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 63°
- Snow a year
- 84 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.0
Homer is a city of 5,522 people in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $388,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks hipper than 93% of Alaska towns, better for retirees than 92% of Alaska towns, better for cycling than 88% of Alaska towns.
How Homer ranks
Percentile among Alaska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alaska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Homer is worth $388,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $74,449, which is more affordable than 5% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,238 a month. 66.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Homer | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $388,400 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,238 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $74,449 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 66.0% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Homer
| People | Homer | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 12.2 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Homer
July highs average 63.1°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 83.7 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Homer since 1950.
Severe weather in Kenai Peninsula Borough since 1996
Kenai Peninsula Borough has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 26, 2022 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4661: Landslide |
| January 15, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4638: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| January 31, 2019 | Earthquake | DR-4413: Earthquake |
Jobs and pay in Kenai Peninsula Borough
Kenai Peninsula Borough had 21,474 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,398 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Homer itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Homer
7 public schools with 1,220 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homer High School | 9-12 | 365 | 17.4 |
| West Homer Elementary | 3-6 | 209 | 11.0 |
| Homer Middle School | 7-8 | 184 | 14.2 |
| Paul Banks Elementary | PK-2 | 172 | 12.3 |
| McNeil Canyon Elementary | K-6 | 147 | 14.7 |
| Fireweed Academy (charter) | K-6 | 109 | 15.6 |
| Homer Flex School | 9-12 | 34 | 11.3 |
Homer questions
Is Homer, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Homer scores better for retirees than 92% of Alaska towns and quieter than 24%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Homer?
The median owner-occupied home in Homer is valued at $388,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,449, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,238 a month.
What is the weather like in Homer?
July highs average 63.1°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 83.7 inches of snow.
Does Homer get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Homer in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)