1st Advantage MortgageThe median Northwest Arctic Borough household earns $84,018, and 18% 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
- Northwest Arctic Borough at a glance
- The Northwest Arctic Borough job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Northwest Arctic Borough
- What it costs to live in Northwest Arctic Borough
- Places inside Northwest Arctic Borough
- Northwest Arctic Borough and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Northwest Arctic Borough median
- Reading the Northwest Arctic Borough data as a borrower
- Northwest Arctic Borough residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Northwest Arctic Borough
- More guides for Northwest Arctic Borough
- Frequently asked questions
Northwest Arctic Borough at a glance
With an estimated 7,441 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Northwest Arctic Borough ranks 13th of 30 in Alaska for population. Land area is 35,672 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 0 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Northwest Arctic Borough in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (10 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Kotzebue, with about 2,984 residents, or 40% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Northwest Arctic Borough figure on this page as a rough guide.
The Northwest Arctic Borough job picture
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Northwest Arctic Borough residents work in education and health care and 26% in public administration. Public administration stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Northwest Arctic Borough averages 16.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.9%). 1% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Sector | Northwest Arctic Borough | Compared with Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Public administration | 25.9% | +14.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.0% | -3.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 4.7% | -3.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Northwest Arctic Borough
At $84,018, the typical Northwest Arctic Borough household income is 28% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 14th among Alaska's 30 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Northwest Arctic Borough | +/- vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.2% | +3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.1% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.0% | -0.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 41% of Northwest Arctic Borough households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.9%, 8 points higher than the state's 10.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.425 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Northwest Arctic 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.
What it costs to live in Northwest Arctic Borough
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,350 in Northwest Arctic Borough versus $1,419 statewide. By the Census definition, 20% of Northwest Arctic Borough renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $199,100, a typical Northwest Arctic Borough house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 64% of homes. The median year built is 1987.
| Housing | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,350/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $199,100 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 29% | n/a |
Places inside Northwest Arctic Borough
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Northwest Arctic Borough, by population. Together all 12 hold about 7,366 people, so roughly 1% of residents live outside any named place. Kotzebue has the highest median household income on the list ($110,357) and Buckland the lowest ($58,990), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,031 in Noorvik to $1,565 in Kotzebue. Live in one of these Northwest Arctic Borough communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotzebue | city | 2,984 | $110,357 | $1,565 | 67 mi |
| Kivalina | city | 809 | $72,589 | $1,089 | 130 mi |
| Noatak | CDP | 786 | $83,750 | $1,063 | 89 mi |
| Noorvik | city | 748 | $63,750 | $1,031 | 30 mi |
| Buckland | city | 533 | $58,990 | $1,075 | 77 mi |
| Kiana | city | 437 | $68,333 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Selawik | city | 412 | $52,500 | $633 | 28 mi |
| Deering | city | 227 | $58,333 | $675 | 99 mi |
| Ambler | city | 182 | $40,556 | n/a | 57 mi |
| Shungnak | city | 147 | $78,750 | n/a | 77 mi |
| Kobuk | city | 101 | $37,917 | n/a | 84 mi |
| Red Dog Mine | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 104 mi |
Northwest Arctic Borough and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Nome Census Area at 193 miles out to Fairbanks North Star Borough at 414. North Slope Borough leads the group on income ($95,694), Kusilvak Census Area trails ($51,471), and Northwest Arctic Borough out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arctic Borough | - | $84,018 | $1,350/mo | 64% |
| Nome Census Area, AK | 193 mi | $78,681 | $1,394/mo | 67% |
| North Slope Borough, AK | 238 mi | $95,694 | $1,254/mo | 49% |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK | 261 mi | $55,741 | $1,084/mo | 70% |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 339 mi | $51,471 | $833/mo | 70% |
| Denali Borough, AK | 368 mi | $80,781 | $825/mo | 65% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 414 mi | $88,267 | $1,459/mo | 62% |
Budget math at the Northwest Arctic Borough median
How much room does a median Northwest Arctic Borough budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $84,018 a year is $7,002 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,350 uses 19%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,801 total minus rent leaves $1,451
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Northwest Arctic Borough's.
Reading the Northwest Arctic Borough data as a borrower
What the Northwest Arctic Borough figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 18% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Consolidation math. With 41% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Northwest Arctic Borough residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 11% of adults over 25. 18.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.6% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.1% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 64.6% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 16.7% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 93.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 5.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 0.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.2% |
| 60+ min | 0.5% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Northwest Arctic Borough:
- Price the Northwest Arctic Borough expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Alaska license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Northwest Arctic Borough
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Northwest Arctic Borough, check 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 Northwest Arctic Borough
For statewide rules and data, see the Alaska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Northwest Arctic Borough?
$84,018 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $92,788 for Alaska. It ranks 14th of 30 in the state.
How much is rent in Northwest Arctic Borough?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,350 a month; 20% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Northwest Arctic Borough guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Kotzebue, Kivalina, Noatak, Noorvik, Buckland.
Will a Northwest Arctic Borough address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Alaska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Northwest Arctic Borough 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.