Median Income
$86,810
household / year
Median Home Value
$248,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,272
gross / month
Cost of Living
101
national avg = 100

Is Utqiaġvik, AK a Good Place to Live?

Utqiaġvik is a small town of 4,876 in Alaska, with a median household income of $86,810 and a 11.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Utqiaġvik stands out for short average commutes.

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

All Utqiaġvik 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: 101.4

Utqiaġvik's overall cost of living index is 101.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Utqiaġvik costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric Utqiaġvik, AK National Avg
Median Home Value $248,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,272 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 39.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $86,810 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Utqiaġvik is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Utqiaġvik is served primarily by North Slope Borough School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Utqiaġvik, AK National Avg
School District North Slope Borough School District —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 2 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 85.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Utqiaġvik sees average highs of -5.2°F in January and 47.7°F in July, with 5.4 inches of annual precipitation and 45.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricUtqiaġvik, AK
Average High — January-5.2°F
Average High — July47.7°F
Annual Precipitation5.4"
Annual Snowfall45.8"

Demographics

MetricUtqiaġvik, AKNational Avg
Population4,876—
Median Age30.738.9
Unemployment Rate11.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time7.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)8.2%59.3%
Black or African American1.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.6%18.9%
Asian10.0%6.3%
Under 1831.5%22.2%
65 and over10.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Atqasuk, AK 55 mi Wainwright, AK 83 mi

ZIP Codes in Utqiaġvik

Utqiaġvik, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code:

99723

Utqiaġvik vs Other Cities

Utqiaġvik, AK vs Atqasuk, AK Utqiaġvik, AK vs Wainwright, AK

Frequently Asked Questions

Utqiaġvik's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Utqiaġvik roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $248,000 and median rent is $1,272/month.
Crime data for Utqiaġvik is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Utqiaġvik are operated by North Slope Borough School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 13.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Utqiaġvik, AK has a population of 4,876, a median household income of $86,810, and an unemployment rate of 11.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Utqiaġvik averages -5.2°F in January and 47.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 5.4 inches with about 45.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Utqiaġvik, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99723.
The population of Utqiaġvik, Alaska is 4,876 with a median age of 30.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Utqiaġvik: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $248,000, median household income $86,810, schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Utqiaġvik side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.