Kotzebue is a city of 2,984 people in Alaska. This skews young, with a median age of 31.0. The average commute runs 6 minutes. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. Few US cities rank higher on income. Owners hold 48% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $110,357, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Kotzebue
What changed most since 1990
White share22.3% → 19.2%(−3.1 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Hispanic share1.1% → 5.7%(+4.6 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Homes owned by their occupants42.0% → 48.0%(+6.0 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)12.1%(17)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)51.4%(72)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era24.3%(34)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 140 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Kotzebue, decade by decade
Kotzebue population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
2,751
$101,684
$266,168
16.3%
48.8
2000
3,082
$104,131
$219,509
17.9%
45.4
2010
3,201
$96,252
$233,768
17.6%
40.4
2020
3,102
$105,447
$290,526
21.4%
54.5
2024
2,984
$110,357
$288,400
18.7%
53.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
