The Town FilesNome, Alaska
City in Nome Census Area · population 3,699 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $356,900
- Household income
- $113,646
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 58°
- Snow a year
- 81 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 31.4
Nome is a city of 3,699 people in Nome Census Area, Alaska. The median home is worth $356,900, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better transit than 98% of Alaska towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Alaska towns, better for cycling than 94% of Alaska towns.
How Nome 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 Nome is worth $356,900, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $113,646, which is more affordable than 59% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,633 a month. 53.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nome | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $356,900 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,633 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $113,646 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 53.6% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.2% | — |
Who lives in Nome
| People | Nome | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.4 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.4% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 6.4 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Nome
July highs average 57.7°F and January lows -2.0°F. About 17.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 80.8 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 231 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Nome since 1950.
Severe weather in Nome Census Area since 1996
Nome Census Area has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, biological.
| 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 |
| August 23, 2023 | Flood | DR-4730: Flooding |
| September 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4672: Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Nome Census Area
Nome Census Area had 3,893 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,229 a year. Unemployment was 7.7% in 2023; in Nome itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Nome
4 public schools with 710 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nome Elementary | PK-5 | 334 | 16.7 |
| Nome-Beltz Middle/High | 6-12 | 291 | 14.6 |
| Anvil City Science Academy (charter) | 5-8 | 60 | 12.0 |
| Extensions Correspondence | K-12 | 25 | — |
Nome questions
Is Nome, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nome scores better for retirees than 41% of Alaska towns and quieter than 16%. 8.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.4).
How much does a house cost in Nome?
The median owner-occupied home in Nome is valued at $356,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $113,646, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,633 a month.
What is the weather like in Nome?
July highs average 57.7°F and January lows -2.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.2 inches of precipitation a year and 80.8 inches of snow.
Does Nome get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Nome 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)