Living in Ketchikan, Alaska
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Ketchikan · Census data 2020–2024
Ketchikan has 8,078 residents with a median age of 37.4. The median household income is $85,275 (8% lower than the Alaska median), the median home value is $352,400, the median rent is $1,417/month.
Ketchikan at a glance
- Population
- 8,078
- Median age
- 37.4State: 35.8
- Median household income
- $85,275State: $92,788
- Median home value
- $352,400State: $352,900
- Median rent
- $1,417/moState: $1,419
- Homeowners
- 61.4%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24.5%
- Average commute
- 11 min
Is Ketchikan a good place to live?
Pros: Home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 11 minutes; unemployment of 4%.
Cons: Median household income 8% lower than the Alaska median; a poverty rate of 11.2%.
The weather is best in May to August.
Cost of living in Ketchikan
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Ketchikan the median home value is $352,400, 6% higher than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,417 per month, which is 30.2% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $2,146 a month in housing costs.
Ketchikan median household income
The median household income in Ketchikan is $85,275 and the income per person is $45,655. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line (Alaska: 10.1%).
Housing in Ketchikan: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 3,944
- Owner-occupied
- 61.4%
- Renter-occupied
- 38.6%
- Vacant
- 13.4%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1971
- Average household size
- 2.28
Ketchikan demographics
- Population
- 8,078
- Median age
- 37.4
- Under 18
- 20.7%
- 65 and older
- 15.2%
- Households
- 3,415
- Foreign-born
- 11.8%
- Veterans
- 7.6%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Ketchikan ›
Education in Ketchikan
24.5% of adults 25 and older in Ketchikan have a bachelor's degree or higher (Alaska: 31.7%), and 9% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Ketchikan
- Unemployment rate
- 4%State: 5.9%
- Average commute
- 11 minState: 19 min
- Work from home
- 5.5%
- Drive alone
- 66.4%
- Public transit
- 0.6%
- Walk to work
- 10.1%
- Homes with broadband
- 91.1%
Ketchikan vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan | 8,078 | $85,275 | $352,400 | $1,417 |
| Saxman | 324 | $51,250 | $305,900 | $867 |
| Metlakatla | 1,235 | $72,279 | $167,600 | $775 |
| Thorne Bay | 519 | $61,250 | $270,000 | $950 |
| Hydaburg | 375 | $46,875 | $105,900 | $669 |
More for people moving to Ketchikan
Weather and climate ›Living in Ketchikan: FAQ
What is the median household income in Ketchikan, AK?
The median household income in Ketchikan is $85,275, 8% lower than the Alaska median of $92,788 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Ketchikan?
The median home value in Ketchikan is $352,400, compared with $352,900 in Alaska.
How much is rent in Ketchikan?
The median gross rent in Ketchikan is $1,417 per month, about 30.2% of household income.
Is Ketchikan, AK a good place to live?
Pluses: home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 11 minutes; unemployment of 4%. Minuses: median household income 8% lower than the Alaska median; a poverty rate of 11.2%.
What is the median age in Ketchikan?
The median age in Ketchikan is 37.4 years (Alaska: 35.8).
How long is the commute in Ketchikan?
The average commute to work in Ketchikan is 11 minutes; 5.5% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Ketchikan?
The unemployment rate in Ketchikan is 4% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Ketchikan?
24.5% of adults in Ketchikan have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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