1st Advantage MortgageThe median Chugach Census Area household earns $90,509, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Chugach Census Area, AK: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Chugach Census Area
- What Chugach Census Area households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Chugach Census Area
- How Chugach Census Area compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Chugach Census Area
- Chugach Census Area residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Chugach Census Area
- What a median Chugach Census Area budget can carry
- Alaska rules that apply in Chugach Census Area
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Chugach Census Area, AK: the basics
Roughly 6,862 residents live in Chugach Census Area, Alaska, 15th by population among the state's 30 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 9,575 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Chugach Census Area is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (3 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Valdez, with about 3,847 residents, or 56% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Chugach Census Area figure on this page as a rough guide.
Rent, home values and ownership in Chugach Census Area
A typical Chugach Census Area rental runs $1,369 a month including utilities, which is 4% below Alaska. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. Home values center on $346,200, or 3.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 64%. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Home costs | Chugach Census Area | Alaska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,369/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $346,200 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.6% | 3.9% | n/a |
What Chugach Census Area households earn
Half of Chugach Census Area households take in less than $90,509 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Alaska median of $92,788. That places it 9th among Alaska's 30 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Chugach Census Area | +/- vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.3% | -2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.2% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.7% | -2.0 pts |
About 13% of households earn under $35,000, while 44% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 5.9%, 4 points lower than the state's 10.1%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Chugach Census Area median.
Jobs and commutes in Chugach Census Area
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Chugach Census Area residents work in education and health care and 11% in public administration. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Chugach Census Area averages 9.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.9%). About 66% drive to work alone and 1% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.7% of the total (9.0% statewide).
| Where residents work | Chugach Census Area | Difference from Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 10.9% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.0% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Chugach Census Area compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (114 to 252 miles). Anchorage Municipality leads the group on income ($103,284), Southeast Fairbanks Census Area trails ($73,882), and Chugach Census Area out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chugach Census Area | - | $90,509 | $1,369/mo | 64% |
| Anchorage Municipality, AK | 114 mi | $103,284 | $1,489/mo | 64% |
| Copper River Census Area, AK | 131 mi | $79,250 | $1,089/mo | 69% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 164 mi | $94,031 | $1,299/mo | 77% |
| Yakutat City and Borough, AK | 201 mi | $85,000 | $1,330/mo | 56% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 209 mi | $80,538 | $1,184/mo | 77% |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK | 252 mi | $73,882 | $1,351/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Chugach Census Area
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 99% of Chugach Census Area residents live in one of the 5. No Chugach Census Area place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valdez | city | 3,847 | $99,271 | $1,481 | 41 mi |
| Cordova | city | 2,453 | $85,132 | $1,200 | 19 mi |
| Whittier | city | 411 | $62,500 | $961 | 86 mi |
| Chenega | CDP | 37 | n/a | n/a | 67 mi |
| Tatitlek | CDP | 20 | $49,063 | n/a | 32 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Chugach Census Area residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Chugach Census Area | Alaska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.4% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.5% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 78.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 2.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.1% |
| 60+ min | 0.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Chugach Census Area
What the Chugach Census Area figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Chugach Census Area. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Chugach Census Area housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Consolidation math. With 44% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
What a median Chugach Census Area budget can carry
Here is the Chugach Census Area median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $90,509 a year is $7,542 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,369 uses 18%
- Under a 36% cap, $2,715 total minus rent leaves $1,346
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,874 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Chugach Census Area land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Alaska rules that apply in Chugach Census Area
Before sharing details with a lender, a Chugach Census Area resident can confirm its license with the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Alaska state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Chugach Census Area.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Alaska borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Alaska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Chugach Census Area household make?
About $90,509 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% below the Alaska median.
Is Chugach Census Area expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,369 against $1,419 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Chugach Census Area town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Valdez, Cordova, Whittier, Chenega, Tatitlek.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Chugach Census Area or elsewhere in Alaska, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Chugach Census Area check a lender's license?
With the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.