The Town FilesKodiak, Alaska
City in Kodiak Island Borough · population 5,581 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $347,100
- Household income
- $90,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 60°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.2
Kodiak is a city of 5,581 people in Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $347,100, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Alaska towns, more walkable than 87% of Alaska towns, more seaside character than 83% of Alaska towns.
- #4 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Coolest Summers
- #4 in 50 Places in America With the Coolest Summers
- #4 in 11 Small Towns in Alaska With the Mildest Winters
- #10 in The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Alaska
- #14 in The 14 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Alaska
- #15 in The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alaska
How Kodiak 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 Kodiak is worth $347,100, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $90,292, which is more affordable than 34% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,571 a month. 49.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kodiak | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $347,100 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,571 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $90,292 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 49.8% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in Kodiak
| People | Kodiak | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 34.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 9.3 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 88.6% |
Weather in Kodiak
July highs average 59.9°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 75.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.9 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Kodiak since 1950.
Severe weather in Kodiak Island Borough since 1996
Kodiak Island Borough has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| December 18, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1865: Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Rockslides |
| December 4, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1445: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Coastal Erosion And Tidal Surge |
| February 17, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1316: Severe Winter Storms And Avalanches |
Jobs and pay in Kodiak Island Borough
Kodiak Island Borough had 5,539 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,845 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Kodiak itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Kodiak
7 public schools with 2,049 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kodiak High School | 9-12 | 584 | 14.6 |
| Kodiak Middle School | 6-8 | 418 | 17.4 |
| East Elementary | PK-5 | 307 | 9.9 |
| Main Elementary | K-5 | 201 | 13.4 |
| Peterson Elementary | PK-5 | 197 | 16.4 |
| North Star Elementary | K-5 | 191 | 11.2 |
| AKTEACH | K-12 | 151 | 75.5 |
Towns near Kodiak
- Mill Bay, AK2.6 mi · 4,216 people · home $463,200
Kodiak questions
Is Kodiak, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kodiak scores better for retirees than 60% of Alaska towns and quieter than 11%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Kodiak?
The median owner-occupied home in Kodiak is valued at $347,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,292, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,571 a month.
What is the weather like in Kodiak?
July highs average 59.9°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 75.6 inches of precipitation a year and 42.9 inches of snow.
Does Kodiak get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Kodiak 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)