The Town FilesKotzebue, Alaska
City in Northwest Arctic Borough · population 3,102 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,400
- Household income
- $110,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- -8° / 60°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 31.0
Kotzebue is a city of 3,102 people in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $288,400, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better transit than 100% of Alaska towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Alaska towns, more vibrant than 84% of Alaska towns.
How Kotzebue 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 Kotzebue is worth $288,400, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $110,357, which is more affordable than 69% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,565 a month. 48.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kotzebue | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,400 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,565 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $110,357 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 48.0% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.0% | — |
Who lives in Kotzebue
| People | Kotzebue | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.0 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.7% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 32.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 6.1 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Kotzebue
July highs average 60.1°F and January lows -8.4°F. About 11.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.2 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 236 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Kotzebue since 1950.
Severe weather in Northwest Arctic Borough since 1996
Northwest Arctic Borough has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4893: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong |
| January 15, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4859: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| December 9, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1618: Severe Fall Storm, Tidal Surges, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Northwest Arctic Borough
Northwest Arctic Borough had 2,999 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $89,651 a year. Unemployment was 9.6% in 2023; in Kotzebue itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Kotzebue
3 public schools with 662 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kotzebue Middle/High School | 6-12 | 336 | 19.8 |
| June Nelson Elementary | PK-5 | 305 | 13.9 |
| NWABSD Home School | K-12 | 21 | — |
Kotzebue questions
Is Kotzebue, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kotzebue scores better for retirees than 30% of Alaska towns and quieter than 22%. 7.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.0).
How much does a house cost in Kotzebue?
The median owner-occupied home in Kotzebue is valued at $288,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,357, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,565 a month.
What is the weather like in Kotzebue?
July highs average 60.1°F and January lows -8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.4 inches of precipitation a year and 64.2 inches of snow.
Does Kotzebue get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Kotzebue 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)