The Town FilesBuffalo Soapstone, Alaska
Community in Matanuska-Susitna Borough · population 1,021 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $289,300
- Household income
- $68,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 66°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 54.1
Buffalo Soapstone is a community of 1,021 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $289,300, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better for families than 98% of Alaska towns, easier by car than 90% of Alaska towns, more upscale than 87% of Alaska towns.
How Buffalo Soapstone ranks
Percentile among Alaska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alaska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo Soapstone is worth $289,300, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $68,750, which is more affordable than 21% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $791 a month. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo Soapstone | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $289,300 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $791 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.3% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo Soapstone
| People | Buffalo Soapstone | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 20.6% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Buffalo Soapstone
July highs average 65.7°F and January lows 9.0°F. About 18.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.5 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 218 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Buffalo Soapstone since 1950.
Severe weather in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since 1996
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4904: Severe Storm |
| March 14, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4646: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| August 22, 2019 | Fire | FM-5290: Deshka Landing Fire |
Jobs and pay in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough had 29,515 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,329 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Buffalo Soapstone itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Towns near Buffalo Soapstone
- Farm Loop, AK3.6 mi · 2,747 people · home $431,300
- Palmer, AK6.0 mi · 5,888 people · home $294,900
- Fishhook, AK6.2 mi · 5,048 people · home $416,300
- Lazy Mountain, AK6.7 mi · 1,506 people · home $352,800
- North Lakes, AK7.7 mi · 9,450 people · home $357,600
- Gateway, AK8.8 mi · 5,748 people · home $446,200
- Sutton-Alpine, AK9.0 mi · 1,038 people · home $236,200
- South Lakes, AK9.2 mi · 5,229 people · home $377,500
Buffalo Soapstone questions
Is Buffalo Soapstone, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo Soapstone scores better for retirees than 67% of Alaska towns and quieter than 51%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.1).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo Soapstone?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo Soapstone is valued at $289,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,750, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $791 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo Soapstone?
July highs average 65.7°F and January lows 9.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.0 inches of precipitation a year and 82.5 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo Soapstone get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Buffalo Soapstone in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)