The Town Files

Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska

7,441 people. The median home is worth $199,100 (typical Alaska town: $289,500) and the median household earns $84,018.

Towns in Northwest Arctic Borough

Towns in Northwest Arctic Borough

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Kotzebue3,102$288,400$110,35731.0

People and housing

Northwest Arctic BoroughTypical Alaska town
Median home value$199,100$289,500
Median rent$1,350$1,146
Median household income$84,018$78,155
Median age28.837.2
Bachelor's degree or higher10.6%22.4%
Below the poverty line17.9%11.9%

Jobs and pay

2,999 jobs in 2024, average pay $89,651 a year.

Largest industries in Northwest Arctic BoroughRetail163 jobs · $39,326Construction78 jobs · $127,472Information36 jobs · $69,843
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Northwest Arctic Borough0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 9.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 53 storm events in Northwest Arctic Borough from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Northwest Arctic Borough by type since 1996Blizzard21High Wind12Heavy Snow5Winter Storm10Coastal Flood4Extreme Cold/Wind Chill1
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Northwest Arctic Borough has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
October 22, 2025FloodDR-4893: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong
January 15, 2025Severe StormDR-4859: Severe Storm And Flooding
April 9, 2020BiologicalDR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3446: Covid-19
December 9, 2005Severe StormDR-1618: Severe Fall Storm, Tidal Surges, And Flooding
November 15, 2004Severe StormDR-1571: Severe Winter Storm, Tidal Surges And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).