The Town FilesUtqiaġvik, Alaska
City in North Slope Borough · population 4,927 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $311,400
- Household income
- $115,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- -18° / 48°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 34.4
Utqiaġvik is a city of 4,927 people in North Slope Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $311,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks more seaside character than 97% of Alaska towns, more walkable than 93% of Alaska towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Alaska towns.
- #1 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Coolest Summers
- #1 in 50 Places in America With the Coolest Summers
- #5 in The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Alaska
- #12 in The 14 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Alaska
- #22 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in America
- #27 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Places in America
How Utqiaġvik 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 Utqiaġvik is worth $311,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $115,313, which is more affordable than 66% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,360 a month. 45.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Utqiaġvik | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $311,400 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,360 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $115,313 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 45.6% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Utqiaġvik
| People | Utqiaġvik | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 10.1 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Utqiaġvik
July highs average 47.7°F and January lows -17.8°F. About 5.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.8 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 300 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Utqiaġvik since 1950.
Severe weather in North Slope Borough since 1996
North Slope Borough has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| December 20, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4351: Severe Storm |
| October 30, 2015 | Coastal Storm | DR-4244: Severe Storm |
| December 22, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4050: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in North Slope Borough
North Slope Borough had 11,794 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $128,567 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Utqiaġvik itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Utqiaġvik
4 public schools with 1,057 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Ipalook Elementary | PK-5 | 529 | 13.9 |
| Barrow High School | 9-12 | 266 | 14.8 |
| Eben Hopson Middle School | 6-8 | 220 | 10.5 |
| Kiita Learning Community | 9-12 | 42 | 10.5 |
Utqiaġvik questions
Is Utqiaġvik, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Utqiaġvik scores better for retirees than 10% of Alaska towns and quieter than 8%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Utqiaġvik?
The median owner-occupied home in Utqiaġvik is valued at $311,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,313, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,360 a month.
What is the weather like in Utqiaġvik?
July highs average 47.7°F and January lows -17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 5.4 inches of precipitation a year and 45.8 inches of snow.
Does Utqiaġvik get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Utqiaġvik 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)