The Town FilesSeward, Alaska
City in Kenai Peninsula Borough · population 2,717 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $338,100
- Household income
- $85,481
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 62°
- Snow a year
- 90 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.7
Seward is a city of 2,717 people in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $338,100, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Alaska towns, better for cycling than 97% of Alaska towns, hipper than 96% of Alaska towns.
- #1 in The 14 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Alaska
- #3 in The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alaska
- #8 in 11 Small Towns in Alaska With the Mildest Winters
- #11 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Coolest Summers
- #13 in 50 Places in America With the Coolest Summers
- #15 in The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Alaska
How Seward 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 Seward is worth $338,100, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $85,481, which is more affordable than 28% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,132 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Seward | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $338,100 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,132 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $85,481 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.7% | — |
Who lives in Seward
| People | Seward | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Seward
July highs average 62.2°F and January lows 21.1°F. About 69.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 90.1 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Seward 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 Seward itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Seward
3 public schools with 497 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| William H. Seward Elementary School | PK-5 | 223 | 13.9 |
| Seward High School | 9-12 | 164 | 16.4 |
| Seward Middle School | 6-8 | 110 | 15.7 |
Seward questions
Is Seward, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Seward scores better for retirees than 89% of Alaska towns and quieter than 72%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Seward?
The median owner-occupied home in Seward is valued at $338,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,481, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,132 a month.
What is the weather like in Seward?
July highs average 62.2°F and January lows 21.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 69.7 inches of precipitation a year and 90.1 inches of snow.
Does Seward get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Seward 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)