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CITY

Fairbanks

Alaska · 31,468 residents (2025 est.) · 31.746 sq mi
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#224Shortest commutesof 6,82614.5#308Youngest by median ageof 6,82629.0
The short version

Fairbanks has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,534. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $268,400. At a median age of 29.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% 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
32,083
+6%since 2000
from 30,224 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,011 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 952 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
29.0
+5%since 2000
from 27.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:31,468 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
30K31K32K34K35K1990201020202024Fairbanks
202432K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,534
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,577 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,912
+86%since 2000
from $19,814 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.8%
+16.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.392
−2%since 2010
from 0.401 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing1.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade1.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$268,400
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $127,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,496
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $680 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
39.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 34.9% in 2000
60.2% rent
Vacancy rate
12.5%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.3%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+17%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
45
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fairbanks on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64.2%(19,406)
Black10.9%(3,291)
Hispanic / Latino6.1%(1,854)
Asian2.7%(805)
Other0%
Diversity Score48.9%(14,774)
2024
White, non-Hispanic55%(17,643)
Black8.2%(2,646)
Hispanic / Latino11.3%(3,631)
Asian4.2%(1,354)
Other21.2%(6,809)
Diversity Score78.9%(25,312)
Diversity Score
79
+61%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.2%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.1%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 88.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.5 min
+64%since 2000
from 8.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
65.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.3%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.2%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
71.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 71.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.6%
−28.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
Female
45.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
Foreign born
7.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.8%
−36.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.7%
+4.8 ptssince 2012
from 11.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.0%
−74.4 ptssince 2013
from 84.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+8.3 ptssince 2017
from 80.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2016
from 83.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 6.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Fairbanks to nearby cities

FAIRBANKS VS
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Home value$297,500+11%
Population11,924−62%
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FAIRBANKS VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fairbanks, Alaska?

Fairbanks, Alaska has about 32,083 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fairbanks, Alaska?

The typical household in Fairbanks, Alaska earns about $73,534 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fairbanks, Alaska expensive?

In Fairbanks, Alaska, the median home is worth about $268,400, and the typical rent is about $1,496 a month.

How educated are people in Fairbanks, Alaska?

About 26.2% of adults age 25 and over in Fairbanks, Alaska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fairbanks, Alaska?

About 8.7% of people in Fairbanks, Alaska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fairbanks, Alaska grown since 1990?

Yes, Fairbanks, Alaska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,240 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Fairbanks, Alaska: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy