1st Advantage MortgageThe median Haines Borough household earns $86,927, and 5% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Alaska license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Haines Borough
- Work, industries and travel time in Haines Borough
- Income in Haines Borough compared with Alaska
- Rent, home values and ownership in Haines Borough
- How Haines Borough compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Haines Borough
- Budget math at the Haines Borough median
- People and households in Haines Borough
- Borrowing situations common in Haines Borough
- Steps before you apply in Haines Borough
- Licensing and complaints for Haines Borough
- More guides for Haines Borough
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Haines Borough
With an estimated 2,086 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Haines Borough ranks 25th of 30 in Alaska for population. Land area is 2,335 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (0 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Haines, with about 1,757 residents, or 84% of the county. Because Haines Borough is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Work, industries and travel time in Haines Borough
Construction employs 17% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 17% locally and 7% for Alaska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Haines Borough. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Haines Borough | Compared with Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 16.8% | +9.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.3% | -9.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 9.7% | -2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Other services | 8.3% | +3.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Haines Borough compared with Alaska
At $86,927, the typical Haines Borough household income is 32% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 11th among Alaska's 30 county-level areas.
| Band | Haines Borough | Compared with Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.5% | +5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.3% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.7% | +1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.4% | -5.2 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 43% clear $100,000. Census counts 5.4% of Haines Borough residents in poverty, against 10.1% across Alaska. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.388 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $86,927 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Haines Borough
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,087 in Haines Borough versus $1,419 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $293,300, about 3.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 78%.
| Measure | Haines Borough | Alaska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,087/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $293,300 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 35% | 18% | n/a |
Because most Haines Borough households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How Haines Borough compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 33 to 181 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Haines Borough; Sitka City and Borough is highest at $101,727 and Hoonah-Angoon Census Area lowest at $61,406.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haines Borough | - | $86,927 | $1,087/mo | 78% |
| Skagway Municipality, AK | 33 mi | $81,136 | $1,280/mo | 71% |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK | 49 mi | $61,406 | $1,014/mo | 72% |
| Juneau City and Borough, AK | 71 mi | $101,661 | $1,444/mo | 64% |
| Sitka City and Borough, AK | 132 mi | $101,727 | $1,341/mo | 62% |
| Petersburg Borough, AK | 166 mi | $75,125 | $950/mo | 66% |
| Yakutat City and Borough, AK | 181 mi | $85,000 | $1,330/mo | 56% |
The communities that make up Haines Borough
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 98% of Haines Borough residents live in one of the 6. Live in one of these Haines Borough communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haines | CDP | 1,757 | $86,719 | $1,087 | 12 mi |
| Mosquito Lake | CDP | 116 | $148,065 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Mud Bay | CDP | 79 | $43,125 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Excursion Inlet | CDP | 62 | n/a | n/a | 48 mi |
| Lutak | CDP | 24 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Covenant Life | CDP | 15 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
Budget math at the Haines Borough median
How much room does a median Haines Borough budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $7,244 gross per month ($86,927 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,087, takes 15% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,811 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Haines Borough's.
People and households in Haines Borough
34% of Haines Borough adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Haines Borough | Alaska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.9 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.1% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 1.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.4% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Haines Borough workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 78.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 12.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Haines Borough
Where the Haines Borough numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Retirees. At a median age of 50.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Consolidation math. With 43% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- 53% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Steps before you apply in Haines Borough
Before you apply, wherever you live in Haines Borough:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Haines Borough-area credit union.
- A Alaska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Haines Borough
Before sharing details with a lender, a Haines Borough resident can confirm its license with the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Alaska guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Haines Borough
For statewide rules and data, see the Alaska guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Haines Borough earn?
The median is $86,927; 43% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Haines Borough?
$1,087 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I own my home in Haines Borough. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Haines?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Haines Borough, such as Mosquito Lake, Mud Bay, Excursion Inlet.
Will a Haines Borough address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Alaska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.