The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alaska

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 35 towns of 500–10,000 people in Alaska. #1 is Homer, AK.

1. 15Kodiak, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 60% of Alaska towns

   Kodiak is a city of 5,581 people in Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska. It also ranks more vibrant than 90% of Alaska towns and more walkable than 87% of Alaska towns.

   5,581 people · Kodiak Island Borough · median home $347,100 · income $90,292 · Jan low 27°F · 43 in snow

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2. 14Farmers Loop, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 61% of Alaska towns

   Farmers Loop is a community of 4,704 people in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of Alaska towns and more upscale than 93% of Alaska towns.

   4,704 people · Fairbanks North Star Borough · median home $279,800 · income $109,950 · Jan low -15°F · 58 in snow

   Full Farmers Loop, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 13Kalifornsky, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 62% of Alaska towns

   Kalifornsky is a community of 8,487 people in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. It also ranks more upscale than 89% of Alaska towns and better for a vacation home than 85% of Alaska towns.

   8,487 people · Kenai Peninsula Borough · median home $336,800 · income $93,508 · Jan low 5°F

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4. 12Farm Loop, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 63% of Alaska towns

   Farm Loop is a community of 2,747 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It also ranks better for families than 95% of Alaska towns and more upscale than 95% of Alaska towns.

   2,747 people · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · median home $431,300 · income $119,375 · Jan low 8°F · 83 in snow

   Full Farm Loop, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 11Fishhook, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 67% of Alaska towns

   Fishhook is a community of 5,048 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It also ranks better for families than 98% of Alaska towns and easier by car than 90% of Alaska towns.

   5,048 people · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · median home $416,300 · income $111,375 · Jan low 11°F · 62 in snow

   Full Fishhook, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 10Butte, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 75% of Alaska towns

   Butte is a community of 3,589 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It also ranks better for families than 91% of Alaska towns and more of a college town than 91% of Alaska towns.

   3,589 people · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · median home $374,600 · income $101,042 · Jan low 12°F · 83 in snow

   Full Butte, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 9Chena Ridge, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 80% of Alaska towns

   Chena Ridge is a community of 6,015 people in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of Alaska towns and more upscale than 100% of Alaska towns.

   6,015 people · Fairbanks North Star Borough · median home $395,500 · income $133,775 · Jan low -15°F · 65 in snow

   Full Chena Ridge, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 8Sitka, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 84% of Alaska towns

   Sitka is a city and borough of 8,458 people in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Alaska towns and more walkable than 97% of Alaska towns.

   8,458 people · Sitka City and Borough · median home $450,300 · income $101,727 · Jan low 29°F

   Full Sitka, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 7Valdez, Alaska

   Better for retirees than 85% of Alaska towns

   Valdez is a city of 3,985 people in Chugach Census Area, Alaska. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Alaska towns and better for young professionals than 95% of Alaska towns.

   3,985 people · Chugach Census Area · median home $313,000 · income $99,271 · Jan low 19°F · 325 in snow

   Full Valdez, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 6Sterling, Alaska

    Better for retirees than 86% of Alaska towns

    Sterling is a community of 5,918 people in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. It also ranks quieter than 91% of Alaska towns and better for a vacation home than 86% of Alaska towns.

    5,918 people · Kenai Peninsula Borough · median home $353,400 · income $102,415 · Jan low 8°F

    Full Sterling, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 5Goldstream, Alaska

    Better for retirees than 88% of Alaska towns

    Goldstream is a community of 3,299 people in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Alaska towns and better for young professionals than 98% of Alaska towns.

    3,299 people · Fairbanks North Star Borough · median home $289,600 · income $103,589 · Jan low -18°F · 62 in snow

    Full Goldstream, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 4Cordova, Alaska

    Better for retirees than 89% of Alaska towns

    Cordova is a city of 2,609 people in Chugach Census Area, Alaska. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Alaska towns and better for cycling than 91% of Alaska towns.

    2,609 people · Chugach Census Area · median home $419,400 · income $85,132 · Jan low 27°F · 99 in snow

    Full Cordova, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 3Seward, Alaska

    Better for retirees than 89% of Alaska towns

    Seward is a city of 2,717 people in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Alaska towns and better for cycling than 97% of Alaska towns.

    2,717 people · Kenai Peninsula Borough · median home $338,100 · income $85,481 · Jan low 21°F · 90 in snow

    Full Seward, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 2Petersburg, Alaska

    Better for retirees than 91% of Alaska towns

    

    Petersburg is a community of 3,043 people in Petersburg Borough, Alaska. It also ranks more seaside character than 98% of Alaska towns and better for cycling than 93% of Alaska towns.

    3,043 people · Petersburg Borough · median home $308,400 · income $71,369 · Jan low 27°F · 86 in snow

    Full Petersburg, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 1Homer, Alaska

    Better for retirees than 92% of Alaska towns

    Homer is a city of 5,522 people in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. It also ranks hipper than 93% of Alaska towns and better for cycling than 88% of Alaska towns.

    5,522 people · Kenai Peninsula Borough · median home $388,400 · income $74,449 · Jan low 19°F · 84 in snow

    Full Homer, Alaska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Alaska rankings

• The 12 Best Small Towns for Families in Alaska
• 11 Small Towns in Alaska With the Mildest Winters
• The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Alaska
• The 14 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Alaska

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