The Town FilesUnalaska, Alaska
City in Aleutians West Census Area · population 4,254 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $462,400
- Household income
- $131,964
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 57°
- Snow a year
- 82 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.4
Unalaska is a city of 4,254 people in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska. The median home is worth $462,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks more seaside character than 77% of Alaska towns, more of a college town than 76% of Alaska towns, better for young professionals than 72% of Alaska towns.
How Unalaska 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 Unalaska is worth $462,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $131,964, which is more affordable than 49% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $2,034 a month. 30.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Unalaska | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $462,400 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $2,034 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $131,964 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 30.2% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Unalaska
| People | Unalaska | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.1% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 8.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 49.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 6.4 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Unalaska
July highs average 57.4°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 60.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 81.6 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Unalaska since 1950.
Severe weather in Aleutians West Census Area since 1996
Aleutians West Census Area has been included in 6 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 |
| September 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4672: Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| February 17, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4257: Severe Storm |
Jobs and pay in Aleutians West Census Area
Aleutians West Census Area had 3,267 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,204 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Unalaska itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Unalaska
2 public schools with 352 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle's View Elementary School | PK-6 | 191 | 13.6 |
| Unalaska Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 161 | 12.4 |
Unalaska questions
Is Unalaska, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Unalaska scores better for retirees than 32% of Alaska towns and quieter than 53%. 5.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Unalaska?
The median owner-occupied home in Unalaska is valued at $462,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $131,964, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $2,034 a month.
What is the weather like in Unalaska?
July highs average 57.4°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.1 inches of precipitation a year and 81.6 inches of snow.
Does Unalaska get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Unalaska 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)