Is Willow, AK a Good Place to Live?
Willow is a small town of 1,952 in Alaska, with a median household income of $71,536 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.
Strengths: Willow's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Willow is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Willow 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: 104.5Willow's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Willow costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Willow, AK | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,114 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 88.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $71,536 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Crime data for Willow is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.
Schools & Education
Willow 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 | Willow, 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 | 21.7% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.1% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Willow sees average highs of 15.3°F in January and 68.4°F in July, with 42.4 inches of annual precipitation and 62.0 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Willow, AK |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 15.3°F |
| Average High — July | 68.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 62.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | Willow, AK | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,952 | — |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 58.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 86.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.2% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 22.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Willow
Willow, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code: