1st Advantage MortgageNorth Slope Borough households have a median income of $95,694 and median rent of $1,254 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- North Slope Borough at a glance
- Employment and commuting in North Slope Borough
- How much North Slope Borough households make
- Housing costs in North Slope Borough
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- North Slope Borough towns compared
- Who lives in North Slope Borough, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in North Slope Borough
- What a median North Slope Borough budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Alaska
- Four steps for North Slope Borough borrowers
- More guides for North Slope Borough
- Frequently asked questions
North Slope Borough at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts North Slope Borough's population at 10,810; only 8 of Alaska's 30 county-level areas are larger. It covers 88,793 square miles of land, with fewer than one resident per square mile. No metropolitan area includes North Slope Borough in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 9 Census places inside North Slope Borough, Utqiaġvik leads by population with about 4,778; 7 of the 9 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in North Slope Borough
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 22% locally and 5% for Alaska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.6% in North Slope Borough. 3% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. 37.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | North Slope Borough | Gap to Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 22.2% | +17.5 pts |
| Public administration | 18.2% | +6.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.0% | -10.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.2% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | +5.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.4% | -3.1 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 North Slope Borough households make
The median household income in North Slope Borough is $95,694; statewide it is $92,788, so North Slope Borough runs 3% above Alaska as a whole. That places it 5th among Alaska's 30 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in North Slope Borough | Difference from Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.5% | -0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.0% | -0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 23.2% | +8.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 47% of North Slope Borough households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. 11.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.447 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in North Slope Borough, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in North Slope Borough
A typical North Slope Borough rental runs $1,254 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Alaska. By the Census definition, 30% of North Slope Borough renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $218,300, a typical North Slope Borough house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 49% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Housing | North Slope Borough | Alaska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,254/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $218,300 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 49% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 12% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.8% | 3.9% | n/a |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Northwest Arctic Borough at 238 miles out to Southeast Fairbanks Census Area at 476. Income ranges from $55,741 in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area to $88,267 in Fairbanks North Star Borough; none of these neighbors top North Slope Borough's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Slope Borough | - | $95,694 | $1,254/mo | 49% |
| Northwest Arctic Borough, AK | 238 mi | $84,018 | $1,350/mo | 64% |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK | 286 mi | $55,741 | $1,084/mo | 70% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 379 mi | $88,267 | $1,459/mo | 62% |
| Denali Borough, AK | 409 mi | $80,781 | $825/mo | 65% |
| Nome Census Area, AK | 431 mi | $78,681 | $1,394/mo | 67% |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK | 476 mi | $73,882 | $1,351/mo | 75% |
North Slope Borough towns compared
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in North Slope Borough, by population. Together all 9 hold about 9,739 people, so roughly 10% of residents live outside any named place. Utqiaġvik has the highest median household income on the list ($115,313) and Point Hope the lowest ($74,844), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Wainwright ($833) and steepest in Utqiaġvik ($1,360). None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utqiaġvik | city | 4,778 | $115,313 | $1,360 | 147 mi |
| Prudhoe Bay | CDP | 1,664 | n/a | n/a | 129 mi |
| Point Hope | city | 832 | $74,844 | $1,088 | 337 mi |
| Wainwright | city | 718 | $93,750 | $833 | 175 mi |
| Nuiqsut | city | 616 | $78,438 | $1,167 | 79 mi |
| Point Lay | CDP | 390 | $104,063 | $1,042 | 226 mi |
| Anaktuvuk Pass | city | 329 | $95,500 | $1,129 | 100 mi |
| Atqasuk | city | 288 | $90,625 | $1,000 | 116 mi |
| Kaktovik | city | 124 | $93,750 | n/a | 239 mi |
Who lives in North Slope Borough, in numbers
16% of North Slope Borough adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.5%, against 11.0% for Alaska.
| North Slope Borough | Alaska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.6% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.5% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 37.0% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.6% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | North Slope Borough |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 80.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 14.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 2.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.1% |
Borrowing situations common in North Slope Borough
A few patterns in the North Slope Borough data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 14% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Higher earners. 47% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a North Slope Borough borrower sees (free reports).
What a median North Slope Borough budget can carry
North Slope Borough at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, North Slope Borough: $7,974
- Rent at the median, $1,254, takes 16% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,617 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in North Slope Borough land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Alaska
Consumer lenders serving North Slope Borough are licensed by the state, not the county; in Alaska that is the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Alaska state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for North Slope Borough borrowers
Steps that save money for North Slope Borough residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alaska.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for North Slope Borough
For statewide rules and data, see the Alaska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in North Slope Borough?
$95,694 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $92,788 for Alaska. It ranks 5th of 30 in the state.
What do renters pay in North Slope Borough?
$1,254 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Utqiaġvik?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in North Slope Borough, such as Prudhoe Bay, Point Hope, Wainwright.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in North Slope Borough or elsewhere in Alaska, the same rules apply.
Is there a North Slope Borough office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alaska it is the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities.