Median Income
$69,534
household / year
Median Home Value
$302,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,105
gross / month
Cost of Living
104
national avg = 100

Is Wasilla, AK a Good Place to Live?

Wasilla is a small town of 9,267 in Alaska, with a median household income of $69,534 and a 9.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Wasilla's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

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

All Wasilla 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: 104.5

Wasilla's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wasilla costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric Wasilla, AK National Avg
Median Home Value $302,200 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,105 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 53.7% 65.9%
Median Household Income $69,534 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Wasilla's violent crime rate is 449.2 per 100,000 residents — 18% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
449.2 /100k
Property Crime
2421.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wasilla is served primarily by Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Wasilla, AK National Avg
School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District —
Elementary Schools 27 —
Middle Schools 3 —
High Schools 10 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 19.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 95.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wasilla sees average highs of 23.7°F in January and 66.8°F in July, with 18.8 inches of annual precipitation and 62.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricWasilla, AK
Average High — January23.7°F
Average High — July66.8°F
Annual Precipitation18.8"
Annual Snowfall62.0"

Demographics

MetricWasilla, AKNational Avg
Population9,267—
Median Age35.938.9
Unemployment Rate9.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time30.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)77.6%59.3%
Black or African American1.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.5%18.9%
Asian3.1%6.3%
Under 1824.8%22.2%
65 and over16.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

South Lakes, AK 5 mi Tanaina, AK 5 mi North Lakes, AK 6 mi Meadow Lakes, AK 6 mi Knik-Fairview, AK 7 mi

Wasilla vs Other Cities

Wasilla, AK vs South Lakes, AK Wasilla, AK vs Tanaina, AK Wasilla, AK vs North Lakes, AK Wasilla, AK vs Meadow Lakes, AK Wasilla, AK vs Knik-Fairview, AK

Frequently Asked Questions

Wasilla's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wasilla roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $302,200 and median rent is $1,105/month.
Wasilla's violent crime rate is 449.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2421.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wasilla are operated by Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The district has 27 elementary, 3 middle, and 10 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.2:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wasilla, AK has a population of 9,267, a median household income of $69,534, and an unemployment rate of 9.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Wasilla averages 23.7°F in January and 66.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.8 inches with about 62.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Wasilla, Alaska is 9,267 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wasilla: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $302,200, median household income $69,534, crime index 117 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wasilla side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.