1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kusilvak Census Area household earns $51,471, and 32% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Kusilvak Census Area at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Kusilvak Census Area
- How Kusilvak Census Area residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Kusilvak Census Area
- Kusilvak Census Area towns compared
- Kusilvak Census Area and the counties next door
- Room for a loan payment in Kusilvak Census Area
- Local borrowing considerations for Kusilvak Census Area
- More Kusilvak Census Area figures
- A Kusilvak Census Area borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Kusilvak Census Area
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kusilvak Census Area at a glance
With an estimated 8,176 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kusilvak Census Area ranks 12th of 30 in Alaska for population. Spread over 17,078 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Kusilvak Census Area is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 13 Census places inside Kusilvak Census Area, Kotlik leads by population with about 976; 12 of the 13 are incorporated. Because Kusilvak Census Area is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Paychecks and income spread in Kusilvak Census Area
At $51,471, the typical Kusilvak Census Area household income is 22% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 30th of 30.
| Band | Kusilvak Census Area | Compared with Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.1% | +16.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +8.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.3% | -13.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -12.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Kusilvak Census Area households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. 32.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.1%). A household earning below the $51,471 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Kusilvak Census Area residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Kusilvak Census Area residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by public administration (23%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 23% locally and 12% for Alaska. Averaged over the five survey years, 19.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 5% drive to work alone and 1% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 82.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Kusilvak Census Area workers | vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Public administration | 23.4% | +11.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.9% | +4.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.0% | -2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.6% | +2.5 pts |
| Other services | 5.3% | +0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Kusilvak Census Area
A typical Kusilvak Census Area rental runs $833 a month including utilities, which is 41% below Alaska. 32% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $84,300, about 1.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 70%.
| Cost | Kusilvak Census Area | Alaska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $833/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $84,300 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 18% | n/a |
Kusilvak Census Area towns compared
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Kusilvak Census Area, by population. Together all 13 hold about 7,984 people, so roughly 2% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $65,078 at the median in Mountain Village, $41,607 in Alakanuk. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotlik | city | 976 | $58,043 | $775 | 53 mi |
| Emmonak | city | 966 | $57,764 | $890 | 54 mi |
| Mountain Village | city | 949 | $65,078 | $950 | 21 mi |
| Hooper Bay | city | 903 | $49,688 | $725 | 109 mi |
| Alakanuk | city | 864 | $41,607 | $912 | 55 mi |
| St. Mary's | city | 810 | $53,750 | $1,125 | 15 mi |
| Pilot Station | city | 713 | $45,000 | $675 | 25 mi |
| Chevak | city | 494 | $35,875 | $779 | 94 mi |
| Scammon Bay | city | 440 | $41,607 | n/a | 83 mi |
| Marshall | city | 386 | $52,083 | n/a | 46 mi |
| Russian Mission | city | 314 | $42,857 | n/a | 68 mi |
| Pitkas Point | CDP | 169 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Nunam Iqua | city | 0 | n/a | n/a | 57 mi |
Kusilvak Census Area and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Bethel Census Area at 137 miles out to Lake and Peninsula Borough at 370. Bristol Bay Borough leads the group on income ($95,625), Lake and Peninsula Borough trails ($65,625), and Kusilvak Census Area out-earns 0 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kusilvak Census Area | - | $51,471 | $833/mo | 70% |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 137 mi | $73,996 | $1,474/mo | 62% |
| Nome Census Area, AK | 175 mi | $78,681 | $1,394/mo | 67% |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 251 mi | $78,533 | $1,105/mo | 61% |
| Bristol Bay Borough, AK | 323 mi | $95,625 | $1,317/mo | 54% |
| Northwest Arctic Borough, AK | 339 mi | $84,018 | $1,350/mo | 64% |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK | 370 mi | $65,625 | $936/mo | 65% |
Room for a loan payment in Kusilvak Census Area
How much room does a median Kusilvak Census Area budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $51,471 a year is $4,289 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $833 uses 19%
- Under a 35% cap, $1,501 total minus rent leaves $668
- $1,097: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Kusilvak Census Area
Where the Kusilvak Census Area numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 32% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
More Kusilvak Census Area figures
6% of Kusilvak Census Area adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Kusilvak Census Area | Alaska | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.6 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 5.8% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.0% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 82.9% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.4% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 19.8% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 93.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 5.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 0.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.3% |
| 60+ min | 0.6% |
A Kusilvak Census Area borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Kusilvak Census Area residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Kusilvak Census Area
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Kusilvak Census Area borrowers answers to the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Alaska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Alaska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Kusilvak Census Area household make?
About $51,471 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 45% below the Alaska median.
Is Kusilvak Census Area expensive for renters?
Median rent is $833 against $1,419 statewide, and 32% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Kusilvak Census Area guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 13 Census places: Kotlik, Emmonak, Mountain Village, Hooper Bay, Alakanuk.
Are Kusilvak Census Area applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Kusilvak 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.