What are the schools like in Gambell, AK?

Gambell is served primarily by Bering Strait School District. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8:1.

What is the median household income in Gambell?

The median household income in Gambell, AK is $39,375 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 31.5%.

What is the weather like in Gambell, AK?

Weather data for Gambell is based on NOAA 30-year climate normals from the nearest reporting station.

Gambell, AK Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Gambell, AK affordable or expensive?

Gambell's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gambell is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $76,700 and the median rent is $938 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Gambell, AK?

Gambell has a violent crime rate of 299.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 259.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gambell, AK a Good Place to Live?

Gambell is a small town of 426 in Alaska, with a median household income of $39,375 and a 31.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Gambell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gambell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gambell city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 93.1

Gambell's overall cost of living index is 93.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gambell costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Gambell, AK	National Avg
Median Home Value	$76,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$938	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$39,375	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Gambell's violent crime rate is 299.9 per 100,000 residents — 21% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

299.9 /100k

Property Crime

259.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gambell is served primarily by Bering Strait School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gambell, AK	National Avg
School District	Bering Strait School District	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	4.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	77.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Climate data is sourced from NOAA 30-year normals (1991–2020) from the nearest weather station.

Metric	Gambell, AK
Average High — January	N/A
Average High — July	N/A
Annual Precipitation	N/A
Annual Snowfall	N/A

Demographics

Metric	Gambell, AK	National Avg
Population	426	—
Median Age	25.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	31.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	3.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	3.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	32.6%	22.2%
65 and over	6.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Savoonga, AK 38 mi

ZIP Codes in Gambell

Gambell, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code:

99742

Gambell vs Other Cities

Gambell, AK vs Savoonga, AK

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gambell, AK affordable or expensive?

Gambell's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gambell roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $76,700 and median rent is $938/month.

What is the crime rate in Gambell, AK?

Gambell's violent crime rate is 299.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 259.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gambell?

Public schools in Gambell are operated by Bering Strait School District. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1. 4.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gambell, AK a good place to live?

Gambell, AK has a population of 426, a median household income of $39,375, and an unemployment rate of 31.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Gambell?

Climate data for Gambell is based on NOAA 30-year normals from the nearest weather station.

What ZIP codes are in Gambell?

Gambell, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99742.

What is the population of Gambell?

The population of Gambell, Alaska is 426 with a median age of 25.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gambell?

Key numbers for living in Gambell: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $76,700, median household income $39,375, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gambell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.