1st Advantage MortgageAbout 61% of Dillingham Census Area homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $78,533. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Alaska before sharing details.
On this page
- Dillingham Census Area, AK: the basics
- Housing costs in Dillingham Census Area
- Income in Dillingham Census Area compared with Alaska
- How Dillingham Census Area residents earn a living
- Dillingham Census Area towns compared
- How Dillingham Census Area compares with nearby counties
- People and households in Dillingham Census Area
- Local borrowing considerations for Dillingham Census Area
- What a median Dillingham Census Area budget can carry
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Alaska
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dillingham Census Area, AK: the basics
Dillingham Census Area is home to about 4,724 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 30 county-level areas in Alaska. Spread over 18,336 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.3 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Dillingham Census Area is not part of any metropolitan area. Dillingham is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 2,109 people (45% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Dillingham Census Area estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Dillingham Census Area
Renters in Dillingham Census Area pay a median of $1,105 a month, 22% below the Alaska figure of $1,419. 34% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. With a median value of $159,000, a typical Dillingham Census Area house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 61%.
| Measure | Dillingham Census Area | Alaska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,105/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,000 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 29% | n/a |
Income in Dillingham Census Area compared with Alaska
Half of Dillingham Census Area households take in less than $78,533 a year and half take in more, 15% below the Alaska median of $92,788. Only 19 Alaska counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Dillingham Census Area | +/- vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.7% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.1% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.0% | -3.7 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. Census counts 19.5% of Dillingham Census Area residents in poverty, against 10.1% across Alaska. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.436 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Dillingham Census Area median.
How Dillingham Census Area residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 24%. Compared with Alaska, the county leans toward public administration (24% against 12%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 10.5% in Dillingham Census Area. 1% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Dillingham Census Area | Gap to Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 24.3% | +12.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | -0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.8% | +3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | +2.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dillingham Census Area should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Dillingham Census Area towns compared
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 99% of Dillingham Census Area residents live in one of the 10. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $50,625 in Manokotak to $101,200 in Dillingham. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillingham | city | 2,109 | $101,200 | $1,228 | 35 mi |
| Togiak | city | 963 | $57,083 | $873 | 82 mi |
| Manokotak | city | 679 | $50,625 | $763 | 61 mi |
| New Stuyahok | city | 474 | $66,250 | $900 | 35 mi |
| Koliganek | CDP | 193 | $73,438 | $900 | 38 mi |
| Aleknagik | city | 92 | $75,417 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Twin Hills | CDP | 87 | $46,250 | n/a | 78 mi |
| Ekwok | city | 36 | n/a | n/a | 31 mi |
| Clark's Point | city | 25 | n/a | n/a | 50 mi |
| Portage Creek | CDP | 1 | n/a | n/a | 49 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
How Dillingham Census Area compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Bristol Bay Borough at 72 miles out to Kusilvak Census Area at 251. Bristol Bay Borough leads the group on income ($95,625), Kusilvak Census Area trails ($51,471), and Dillingham Census Area out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillingham Census Area | - | $78,533 | $1,105/mo | 61% |
| Bristol Bay Borough, AK | 72 mi | $95,625 | $1,317/mo | 54% |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 116 mi | $73,996 | $1,474/mo | 62% |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK | 119 mi | $65,625 | $936/mo | 65% |
| Kodiak Island Borough, AK | 201 mi | $86,250 | $1,765/mo | 61% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 213 mi | $80,538 | $1,184/mo | 77% |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 251 mi | $51,471 | $833/mo | 70% |
People and households in Dillingham Census Area
19% of Dillingham Census Area adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Dillingham Census Area | Alaska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.7 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 35.4% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.5% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.5% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 84.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 10.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.4% |
| 60+ min | 0.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Dillingham Census Area
A few patterns in the Dillingham Census Area data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 16% of Dillingham Census Area residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
What a median Dillingham Census Area budget can carry
Dillingham Census Area at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,544 a month: gross income for a household at the Dillingham Census Area median
- Less median rent of $1,105, which is 17% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,251 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,814 total minus rent leaves $1,709
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dillingham Census Area:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Alaska borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Alaska
The Alaska Division of Banking and Securities is the place to verify any lender's Alaska license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Alaska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Alaska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dillingham Census Area household make?
About $78,533 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Alaska median.
How does Dillingham Census Area rent compare with Alaska?
$1,105 locally versus $1,419 for the state, 22% below.
Which towns does the Dillingham Census Area guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Dillingham, Togiak, Manokotak, New Stuyahok, Koliganek.
Does living in Dillingham Census Area change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Dillingham Census Area resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Dillingham Census Area residents?
The Alaska Division of Banking and Securities licenses consumer lenders in Alaska; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.