1st Advantage MortgageAbout 61% of Kodiak Island Borough homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $86,250. 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 Kodiak Island Borough
- Work, industries and travel time in Kodiak Island Borough
- How much Kodiak Island Borough households make
- Renting and owning in Kodiak Island Borough
- Places inside Kodiak Island Borough
- How Kodiak Island Borough compares with nearby counties
- More Kodiak Island Borough figures
- Borrowing situations common in Kodiak Island Borough
- Debt-to-income at Kodiak Island Borough's medians
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Kodiak Island Borough
- More guides for Kodiak Island Borough
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Kodiak Island Borough
With an estimated 12,771 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kodiak Island Borough ranks 8th of 30 in Alaska for population. Land area is 6,689 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Kodiak Island Borough is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 12 Census places inside Kodiak Island Borough, Kodiak leads by population with about 5,447; 6 of the 12 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Kodiak Island Borough
The biggest employer of Kodiak Island Borough residents, by industry, is education and health care at 32% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Compared with Alaska, the county leans toward manufacturing (14% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Kodiak Island Borough averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.9%). 2% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 7.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kodiak Island Borough | Gap to Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.1% | +7.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | +9.8 pts |
| Public administration | 9.7% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.3% | -2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | -2.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Kodiak Island Borough households make
The median household income in Kodiak Island Borough is $86,250; statewide it is $92,788, so Kodiak Island Borough runs 7% below Alaska as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Kodiak Island Borough | Difference from Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.6% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.2% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.0% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | -4.4 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 44% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.7% of Kodiak Island Borough residents in poverty, against 10.1% across Alaska. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.445 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $86,250 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Kodiak Island Borough
A typical Kodiak Island Borough rental runs $1,765 a month including utilities, which is 24% above Alaska. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. Home values center on $412,300, or 4.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 61% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1987.
| Cost | Kodiak Island Borough | Alaska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,765/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $412,300 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 18% | n/a |
Places inside Kodiak Island Borough
12 Census places fall mainly inside Kodiak Island Borough; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 12,448 residents, leaving about 3% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Kodiak has the highest median household income on the list ($90,292) and Kodiak Station the lowest ($83,750), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Kodiak ($1,571) and steepest in Mill Bay ($2,710). This guide covers each of the 12 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodiak | city | 5,447 | $90,292 | $1,571 | 56 mi |
| Mill Bay | CDP | 3,654 | $88,580 | $2,710 | 58 mi |
| Kodiak Station | CDP | 1,823 | $83,750 | $2,403 | 49 mi |
| Womens Bay | CDP | 788 | n/a | n/a | 46 mi |
| Old Harbor | city | 162 | $30,000 | n/a | 40 mi |
| Akhiok | city | 160 | $85,139 | n/a | 53 mi |
| Port Lions | city | 150 | $46,250 | n/a | 41 mi |
| Larsen Bay | city | 145 | $37,188 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Ouzinkie | city | 86 | n/a | n/a | 56 mi |
| Karluk | CDP | 33 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Aleneva | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 44 mi |
| Chiniak | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 61 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Kodiak Island Borough compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 96 to 313 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Anchorage Municipality leads the group on income ($103,284), Lake and Peninsula Borough trails ($65,625), and Kodiak Island Borough out-earns 4 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodiak Island Borough | - | $86,250 | $1,765/mo | 61% |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK | 96 mi | $65,625 | $936/mo | 65% |
| Bristol Bay Borough, AK | 132 mi | $95,625 | $1,317/mo | 54% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 192 mi | $80,538 | $1,184/mo | 77% |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 201 mi | $78,533 | $1,105/mo | 61% |
| Anchorage Municipality, AK | 290 mi | $103,284 | $1,489/mo | 64% |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 313 mi | $73,996 | $1,474/mo | 62% |
More Kodiak Island Borough figures
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Kodiak Island Borough | All of Alaska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 72.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 2.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.2% |
| 60+ min | 1.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Kodiak Island Borough
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Kodiak Island Borough borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Debt-to-income at Kodiak Island Borough's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Kodiak Island Borough household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $7,188 gross per month ($86,250 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,765, which is 25% of it
- $751: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,469 a month
If your rent is above $1,765, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Kodiak Island Borough:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alaska.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Kodiak Island Borough
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Kodiak Island Borough borrowers answers to the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Alaska state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Kodiak Island Borough
The Alaska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Kodiak Island Borough?
$86,250 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $92,788 for Alaska. It ranks 12th of 30 in the state.
What do renters pay in Kodiak Island Borough?
$1,765 a month at the median, about 25% of median household income.
Does this page cover Kodiak?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Kodiak Island Borough, such as Mill Bay, Kodiak Station, Womens Bay.
Is the fit check different in Kodiak Island Borough?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Kodiak Island Borough office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alaska it is the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities.