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CITY

Kenai

Alaska · 7,924 residents (2025 est.) · 29.14 sq mi
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The short version

Kenai has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $87,083. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $283,900. At a median age of 34.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,641
+10%since 2000
from 6,942 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
262 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 238 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.4
+7%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,924 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K7K7K8K1990201020202024Kenai
20248K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$87,083
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,962 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,891
+106%since 2000
from $20,789 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.6%
+19.3 ptssince 2009
from 34.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.408
+6%since 2010
from 0.386 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing6.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade5.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$283,900
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $109,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,138
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $604 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.3%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 60.4% in 2000
29.7% rent
Vacancy rate
11.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+36%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
66
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kenai on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.7%(5,602)
Black0.5%(34)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(265)
Asian1.6%(111)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.2%(1,123)
2024
White, non-Hispanic69.2%(5,287)
Black0.9%(67)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(596)
Asian3.4%(258)
Other18.8%(1,433)
Diversity Score59.8%(4,573)
Diversity Score
60
+270%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.1%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.1%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 88.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.5 min
+14%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.3%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 66.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.1%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 68.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.8%
−30.7 ptssince 2009
from 61.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−41.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2012
from 15.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.0%
−66.9 ptssince 2013
from 74.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.8%
+15.6 ptssince 2017
from 79.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2016
from 93.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Kenai, Alaska?

Kenai, Alaska has about 7,641 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kenai, Alaska?

The typical household in Kenai, Alaska earns about $87,083 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kenai, Alaska expensive?

In Kenai, Alaska, the median home is worth about $283,900, and the typical rent is about $1,138 a month.

How educated are people in Kenai, Alaska?

About 28.1% of adults age 25 and over in Kenai, Alaska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kenai, Alaska?

About 13.2% of people in Kenai, Alaska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kenai, Alaska grown since 1990?

Yes, Kenai, Alaska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,314 residents, a change of about 21 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 →