Department of Numbers

Housing Units, Population and Cost Rank Measures for Alaska

Here we explore the evolution and dynamics of the housing supply in Alaska, the relative cost of Alaska housing, the housing mix and the change in Alaska population. Housing supply here is defined as the number of housing units (i.e: houses, condos, apartments etc..). For this analysis, the Alaska population number we're most interested in is the 18 and over population since the under 18 population typically isn't a buyer or renter in the housing market. All data on this page comes from the Census ACS 1 year survey. Jump to Alaska sections: housing units, housing cost, housing mix, population.

Housing Units and 18+ Population for Alaska

The data below track the total number of housing units in Alaska, the total 18 and over population in Alaska and the ratio of the 18 and over Alaska population to the number of housing units. Over the past 5 years, the number of Alaska housing units increased by 3.66% while the 18 and over population increased by 0.33%. As a result, the ratio of the 18 and over population to housing units decreased from 1.782 to 1.725. A lower population to housing units ratio means there are more housing units available per person in the region.

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Alaska Housing Units 319,867 +0.48% +3.66%
Alaska 18+ Population 551,796 -0.39% +0.33%
Alaska 18+ Pop. / Units 1.725 -0.015 -0.057

Alaska 18+ Population to Units Ratio Trends: Alaska, US

Alaska Housing Units and 18+ Population History

Date Alaska Housing Units Alaska 18+ Population Alaska 18+ Pop. / Units
2019 319,867 551,796 1.725
2018 318,352 553,978 1.740
2017 316,968 554,614 1.750
2016 310,672 554,598 1.785
2015 309,453 552,041 1.784
2014 308,571 549,963 1.782
2013 307,417 546,766 1.779
2012 307,628 544,184 1.769
2011 311,182 534,495 1.718
2010 307,065 525,600 1.712
2009 283,895 514,961 1.814
2008 283,403 505,534 1.784

more history ...

Alaska Relative Housing Cost Percentile by Price and Rent

This data shows where Alaska falls in the distribution of home prices and rent compared to other states (and D.C.). The higher the percentile, the more expensive the region is compared to the rest of the country. In 2019, Alaska was at the 70.59% percentile for home prices and the 78.43% percentile for the cost of rent. Over the past 5 years, Alaska home prices have become less expensive compared to the rest of the country and rent in Alaska has become less expensive over the past 5 years relative to the rest of the country.

Alaska Home Price and Rent Percentile

2019 1 Year Change
(delta)		 5 Year Change
(delta)
Alaska Home Price Percentile 70.59% -1.96% -9.80%
Alaska Rent Percentile 78.43% 0.00% -11.77%

Alaska Trends in Home Price and Rent Percentile: Alaska, US

Alaska Home Price and Rent Percentile History

Date Alaska Home Price Percentile Alaska Rent Percentile
2019 70.59% 78.43%
2018 72.55% 78.43%
2017 74.51% 82.35%
2016 78.43% 90.20%
2015 78.43% 86.27%
2014 80.39% 90.20%
2013 84.31% 90.20%
2012 84.31% 90.20%
2011 78.43% 86.27%
2010 72.55% 82.35%
2009 70.59% 90.20%
2008 68.63% 82.35%

more history ...

Alaska Housing Units: Owner Occupied, Renter Occupied and Vacant

The data below shows the number of housing units in Alaska by type. Over the past 5 years, the number of housing units held by owner occupiers increased by 4.66% while the total number of rented units in Alaska decreased by 5.05%. Units that were vacant1 increased by 14.86% over the last 5 years.

Alaska Changes in Owned, Rented and Vacant Units

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Alaska Owner Occ. Units 163,272 -2.30% +4.66%
Alaska Renter Occ. Units 88,927 +1.70% -5.05%
Alaska Vacant Units 67,668 +6.06% +14.86%

Alaska Housing Share Trends: Owned, Rented and Vacant: Owned, Rented, Vacant

The chart below shows the share of each housing type in Alaska as a fraction of total housing units.

Alaska Owned, Rented and Vacant Units History

Date Alaska Owner Occ. Units Alaska Renter Occ. Units Alaska Vacant Units
2019 163,272 88,927 67,668
2018 167,108 87,443 63,801
2017 159,344 91,397 66,227
2016 160,215 88,253 62,204
2015 159,922 90,263 59,268
2014 156,006 93,653 58,912
2013 156,107 89,908 61,402
2012 159,427 92,224 55,977
2011 162,312 95,018 53,852
2010 162,785 91,825 52,455
2009 154,337 82,260 47,298
2008 154,334 83,273 45,796

more history ...

Alaska Population

This data shows the population of Alaska for the under 18 category and the 18 and over category. In the last 5 years the under 18 population has decreased by 3.76% while the 18 and over population has increased by 0.33%.The total population of Alaska has decreased by 0.70% in the last 5 years.

Changes in Alaska Population

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Alaska Population Under 18 179,749 -2.02% -3.76%
Alaska Population 18+ 551,796 -0.39% +0.33%
Alaska Total Population 731,545 -0.80% -0.70%

Alaska Population Age Share: Under 18, 18 and Over: 18+, Under 18

Alaska Population History

Date Alaska Population Under 18 Alaska Population 18+ Alaska Total Population
2019 179,749 551,796 731,545
2018 183,460 553,978 737,438
2017 185,181 554,614 739,795
2016 187,296 554,598 741,894
2015 186,391 552,041 738,432
2014 186,769 549,963 736,732
2013 188,366 546,766 735,132
2012 187,265 544,184 731,449
2011 188,223 534,495 722,718
2010 188,385 525,600 713,985
2009 183,512 514,961 698,473
2008 180,759 505,534 686,293

more history ...

1. The Census defines a vacant unit as belonging to the following set: For rent, Rented not occupied, For sale only, Sold not occupied, For seasonal or recreational or other occasional use, For migrant workers, Other vacant. ↩

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