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CITY

Ester

Alaska · 2,752 residents · 64.236 sq mi
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The short version

Ester has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,272. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 64% since 2000. 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $255,400. Households here earn about 43% less than the Alaska median. 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,752
+64%since 2000
from 1,680 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
43 / sq mi
+64%since 2000
from 26 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.0
+11%since 2000
from 34.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
08232K2K3K1990201020202024Ester
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,272
−42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,461 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,460
+42%since 2000
from $29,155 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.1%
+14.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.502
+11%since 2010
from 0.450 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information24%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing4.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade0%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade0%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance0%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$255,400
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,208
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $514 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 60.4% in 2000
44.4% rent
Vacancy rate
10.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.0%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.7%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.8
+114%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
34
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.5%(1,454)
Black0.8%(14)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(42)
Asian0.7%(12)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.8%(182)
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.8%(2,197)
Black2.2%(60)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(105)
Asian0%(0)
Other14.2%(390)
Diversity Score42.6%(1,172)
Diversity Score
43
+294%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
50.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 51.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 96.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2000
from 25.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+111%since 2000
from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.5%
+20.0 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
1.6%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.4%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 10.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.5%
−9.2 ptssince 2011
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
30.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
57.8%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
62.0%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.7% in 2009
Female
38.0%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.3% in 2009
Foreign born
6.4%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
15.0%
−47.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2012
from 9.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.0%
−75.0 ptssince 2013
from 85.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.3%
+6.0 ptssince 2017
from 77.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.7%
−6.4 ptssince 2016
from 99.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Ester, Alaska?

Ester, Alaska has about 2,752 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ester, Alaska?

The typical household in Ester, Alaska earns about $53,272 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ester, Alaska expensive?

In Ester, Alaska, the median home is worth about $255,400, and the typical rent is about $1,208 a month.

How educated are people in Ester, Alaska?

About 50.5% of adults age 25 and over in Ester, Alaska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ester, Alaska?

About 11.9% of people in Ester, Alaska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ester, Alaska grown since 1990?

Yes, Ester, Alaska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,596 residents, a change of about 1664 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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