What are the schools like in Shishmaref, AK?

Shishmaref 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 Shishmaref?

The median household income in Shishmaref, AK is $56,875 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 28.4%.

What is the weather like in Shishmaref, AK?

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

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

Q: Is Shishmaref, AK affordable or expensive?

Shishmaref's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Shishmaref is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $118,300 and the median rent is $900 per month.

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

Shishmaref 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 Shishmaref, AK a Good Place to Live?

Shishmaref is a small town of 568 in Alaska, with a median household income of $56,875 and a 28.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Shishmaref 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 Shishmaref is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Shishmaref 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: 95.0

Shishmaref's overall cost of living index is 95.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Shishmaref costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Shishmaref, AK	National Avg
Median Home Value	$118,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$900	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,875	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Shishmaref'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

Shishmaref 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	Shishmaref, 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	9.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

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

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

Demographics

Metric	Shishmaref, AK	National Avg
Population	568	—
Median Age	30.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	28.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	4.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	2.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	37.5%	22.2%
65 and over	9.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brevig Mission, AK 62 mi Teller, AK 68 mi Wales, AK 70 mi Port Clarence, AK 80 mi Diomede, AK 85 mi

ZIP Codes in Shishmaref

Shishmaref, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code:

99772

Shishmaref vs Other Cities

Shishmaref, AK vs Brevig Mission, AK Shishmaref, AK vs Teller, AK Shishmaref, AK vs Wales, AK Shishmaref, AK vs Port Clarence, AK Shishmaref, AK vs Diomede, AK

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shishmaref, AK affordable or expensive?

Shishmaref's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Shishmaref roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $118,300 and median rent is $900/month.

What is the crime rate in Shishmaref, AK?

Shishmaref'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 Shishmaref?

Public schools in Shishmaref 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. 9.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Shishmaref, AK a good place to live?

Shishmaref, AK has a population of 568, a median household income of $56,875, and an unemployment rate of 28.4%. 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 Shishmaref?

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

What ZIP codes are in Shishmaref?

Shishmaref, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99772.

What is the population of Shishmaref?

The population of Shishmaref, Alaska is 568 with a median age of 30.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Shishmaref?

Key numbers for living in Shishmaref: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $118,300, median household income $56,875, 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 Shishmaref side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.