1st Advantage MortgageAbout 65% of Lake and Peninsula Borough homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $65,625. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Lake and Peninsula Borough by the numbers
- Income in Lake and Peninsula Borough compared with Alaska
- Jobs and commutes in Lake and Peninsula Borough
- Renting and owning in Lake and Peninsula Borough
- Lake and Peninsula Borough and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lake and Peninsula Borough
- Budget math at the Lake and Peninsula Borough median
- People and households in Lake and Peninsula Borough
- Before borrowing in Lake and Peninsula Borough
- A Lake and Peninsula Borough borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Lake and Peninsula Borough residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lake and Peninsula Borough by the numbers
Lake and Peninsula Borough is home to about 1,013 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 30 county-level areas in Alaska. Land area is 23,831 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 0 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lake and Peninsula Borough is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (6 incorporated, 12 census-designated); the largest is Port Alsworth, with about 199 residents, or 20% of the county. With so few households sampled, Lake and Peninsula Borough estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Lake and Peninsula Borough compared with Alaska
At $65,625, the typical Lake and Peninsula Borough household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 23 Alaska counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Lake and Peninsula Borough | +/- vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.1% | +7.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.3% | +9.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -9.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -7.5 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.8%, 3 points higher than the state's 10.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.426 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lake and Peninsula Borough median.
Jobs and commutes in Lake and Peninsula Borough
The biggest employer of Lake and Peninsula Borough residents, by industry, is public administration at 30% of workers, followed by construction (23%). Compared with Alaska, the county leans toward public administration (30% against 12%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lake and Peninsula Borough averages 8.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.9%). 3% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 43.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Lake and Peninsula Borough | Compared with Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration | 29.6% | +17.6 pts |
| Construction | 23.0% | +15.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 13.9% | -10.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.0% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 5.4% | -4.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lake and Peninsula Borough should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Lake and Peninsula Borough
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $936 in Lake and Peninsula Borough versus $1,419 statewide. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 2% spend half or more. With a median value of $237,500, a typical Lake and Peninsula Borough house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 65%.
| Housing | Lake and Peninsula Borough | Alaska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $936/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $237,500 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% | 3.9% | n/a |
Lake and Peninsula Borough and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Lake and Peninsula Borough's, from 48 to 290 miles away. Income ranges from $65,365 in Aleutians East Borough to $95,625 in Bristol Bay Borough; 5 of these neighbors top Lake and Peninsula Borough's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | - | $65,625 | $936/mo | 65% |
| Bristol Bay Borough, AK | 48 mi | $95,625 | $1,317/mo | 54% |
| Kodiak Island Borough, AK | 96 mi | $86,250 | $1,765/mo | 61% |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 119 mi | $78,533 | $1,105/mo | 61% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 213 mi | $80,538 | $1,184/mo | 77% |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 235 mi | $73,996 | $1,474/mo | 62% |
| Aleutians East Borough, AK | 290 mi | $65,365 | $979/mo | 64% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lake and Peninsula Borough
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 18 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 94% of Lake and Peninsula Borough residents live in one of the 18. None of the 18 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Alsworth | CDP | 199 | $67,750 | $850 | 159 mi |
| Newhalen | city | 122 | $106,250 | n/a | 125 mi |
| Nondalton | city | 103 | $57,500 | n/a | 140 mi |
| Perryville | CDP | 82 | $47,500 | $975 | 182 mi |
| Port Heiden | city | 73 | $61,250 | n/a | 113 mi |
| Iliamna | CDP | 70 | $74,500 | n/a | 128 mi |
| Egegik | city | 54 | $24,250 | n/a | 41 mi |
| Igiugig | CDP | 53 | $64,583 | $1,300 | 85 mi |
| Pilot Point | city | 48 | n/a | n/a | 62 mi |
| Kokhanok | CDP | 39 | n/a | n/a | 108 mi |
| Chignik Lagoon | CDP | 29 | $71,875 | n/a | 147 mi |
| Chignik | city | 27 | n/a | n/a | 146 mi |
| Chignik Lake | CDP | 27 | $80,625 | n/a | 155 mi |
| Pedro Bay | CDP | 14 | $104,063 | n/a | 142 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Lake and Peninsula Borough median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lake and Peninsula Borough's medians:
- Start: $5,469 gross per month ($65,625 / 12)
- Less median rent of $936, which is 17% of it
- At 35%, room after rent is $978 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,525 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Lake and Peninsula Borough
16% of Lake and Peninsula Borough adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 32% go without health insurance.
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | Alaska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 32.2% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 43.5% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.6% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
Before borrowing in Lake and Peninsula Borough
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lake and Peninsula Borough borrowers.
- Health costs. With 32% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Consolidating cards in Lake and Peninsula Borough. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Lake and Peninsula Borough borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lake and Peninsula Borough.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alaska.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Lake and Peninsula Borough residents
Consumer lenders serving Lake and Peninsula Borough are licensed by the state, not the county; in Alaska that is the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. 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 Lake and Peninsula Borough household make?
About $65,625 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Alaska median.
What do renters pay in Lake and Peninsula Borough?
$936 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I live in a small Lake and Peninsula Borough town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Port Alsworth, Newhalen, Nondalton, Perryville, Port Heiden and 13 more.
Does living in Lake and Peninsula Borough 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 Lake and Peninsula Borough resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Lake and Peninsula Borough 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.