The Town FilesKetchikan, Alaska
City in Ketchikan Gateway Borough · population 8,192 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $352,400
- Household income
- $85,275
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 66°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.4
Ketchikan is a city of 8,192 people in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $352,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Alaska towns, more vibrant than 100% of Alaska towns, more seaside character than 100% of Alaska towns.
How Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan is worth $352,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $85,275, which is more affordable than 24% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,417 a month. 61.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ketchikan | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $352,400 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,417 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $85,275 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 61.4% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Ketchikan
| People | Ketchikan | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 10.6 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 88.6% |
Weather in Ketchikan
July highs average 66.2°F and January lows 32.3°F. About 157.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.8 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Ketchikan since 1950.
Severe weather in Ketchikan Gateway Borough since 1996
Ketchikan Gateway Borough has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for biological, mud/landslide.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 13, 2024 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4846: Landslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Ketchikan Gateway Borough had 7,277 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,614 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Ketchikan itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Ketchikan
8 public schools with 1,966 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan High School | 9-12 | 516 | 14.3 |
| Houghtaling Elementary | PK-6 | 289 | 10.3 |
| Schoenbar Middle School | 7-8 | 267 | 11.6 |
| Point Higgins School | PK-6 | 234 | 11.7 |
| Fawn Mountain Elementary | PK-6 | 223 | 9.7 |
| Ketchikan Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 189 | 12.6 |
| Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School (charter) | PK-6 | 141 | 11.8 |
| Revilla Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 107 | 15.3 |
Ketchikan questions
Is Ketchikan, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ketchikan scores better for retirees than 44% of Alaska towns and quieter than 11%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Ketchikan?
The median owner-occupied home in Ketchikan is valued at $352,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,275, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,417 a month.
What is the weather like in Ketchikan?
July highs average 66.2°F and January lows 32.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 157.3 inches of precipitation a year and 34.8 inches of snow.
Does Ketchikan get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Ketchikan 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)