The Town FilesSitka, Alaska
City and borough in Sitka City and Borough · population 8,458 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $450,300
- Household income
- $101,727
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 60°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 39.7
Sitka is a city and borough of 8,458 people in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $450,300, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Alaska towns, more walkable than 97% of Alaska towns, more seaside character than 97% of Alaska towns.
- #2 in 11 Small Towns in Alaska With the Mildest Winters
- #2 in The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Alaska
- #7 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Coolest Summers
- #7 in 50 Places in America With the Coolest Summers
- #8 in The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alaska
- #31 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
How Sitka 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 Sitka is worth $450,300, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $101,727, which is more affordable than 18% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,341 a month. 61.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sitka | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $450,300 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,341 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $101,727 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 61.7% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.5% | — |
Who lives in Sitka
| People | Sitka | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 13.0 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Sitka
July highs average 60.4°F and January lows 29.2°F. About 102.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Sitka since 1950.
Severe weather in Sitka City and Borough since 1996
Sitka City and Borough has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sitka City and Borough
Sitka City and Borough had 4,479 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,555 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Sitka itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Sitka
7 public schools with 1,544 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Edgecumbe High School | 9-12 | 401 | 15.4 |
| Sitka High School | 9-12 | 335 | 15.2 |
| Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary | 2-5 | 277 | 11.1 |
| Blatchley Middle School | 6-8 | 248 | 13.1 |
| Baranof Elementary | PK-1 | 160 | 8.0 |
| Sitka REACH | K-12 | 78 | — |
| Pacific High School | 9-12 | 45 | 11.3 |
Sitka questions
Is Sitka, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sitka scores better for retirees than 84% of Alaska towns and quieter than 24%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Sitka?
The median owner-occupied home in Sitka is valued at $450,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,727, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,341 a month.
What is the weather like in Sitka?
July highs average 60.4°F and January lows 29.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 102.1 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Sitka get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Sitka 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)