Alaska Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Alaska was $1,201 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $1,183 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Alaska median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Alaska rental vacancy rates, Alaska rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Alaska.
Real Gross Rent in Alaska (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Alaska Median Gross Rent | $1,201 | +0.25% | -5.06% |
Alaska Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Alaska peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,265 and is now $64 (5.06%) lower. Average gross rent for Alaska peaked in real terms in 2014 at $1,229 and is now $46 (3.74%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Alaska: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Alaska
| Date | US Median | Alaska Median | Alaska Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,201 | $1,183 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,198 | $1,175 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,238 | $1,220 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,265 | $1,225 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,234 | $1,209 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,249 | $1,229 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,176 | $1,168 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,191 | $1,182 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,133 | $1,109 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,096 | $1,066 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,148 | $1,118 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,079 | $1,023 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,040 | $970 |
Alaska Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Alaska was 9.22% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Alaska
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alaska | 9.22% | +0.66% | +3.41% |
Trends in Alaska Rental Vacancy Rate
At 9.22%, Alaska residential rental vacancy rate in 2019 is at the highest point since 2005, the beginning of our reporting for this series.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Alaska, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Alaska
| Date | US | Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.22% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 8.56% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.12% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.81% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.74% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.89% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.74% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.62% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.94% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 3.73% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.82% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 5.99% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.87% |
Alaska Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Alaska, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Alaska, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.10% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Alaska Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Alaska | 19.10% | +0.10% | +0.13% |
Trends in Alaska Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Alaska household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.85%. Since then it has fallen by 0.75% to 19.10%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Alaska, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Alaska
| Date | US | Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.10% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.00% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 19.69% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.96% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.03% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.83% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.56% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.85% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.56% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.23% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.05% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.12% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.75% |
Renter Fraction in Alaska
You can calculate the renter fraction in Alaska in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Alaska as a fraction of total Alaska households. In 2019 35.26% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Alaska Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Alaska | 35.26% | +0.91% | -0.26% |
Trends in the Alaska Renter Fraction
The Alaska household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 37.51% and is now 2.25% below that level. From a recent low of 34.35% in 2018, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 0.91%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Alaska, US
History of Alaska Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 35.26% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.35% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 36.45% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 35.52% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 36.08% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 37.51% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 36.55% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 36.65% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 36.92% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.06% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 34.77% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 36.97% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 36.97% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
