The Town FilesNorth Lakes, Alaska
Community in Matanuska-Susitna Borough · population 9,450 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $357,600
- Household income
- $101,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 67°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 36.2
North Lakes is a community of 9,450 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $357,600, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Alaska towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Alaska towns, more vibrant than 85% of Alaska towns.
- #4 in The 14 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Alaska
- #9 in The 12 Best Small Towns for Families in Alaska
- #10 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #13 in The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Alaska
- #36 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Coolest Summers
- #46 in 50 Places in America With the Coolest Summers
How North Lakes 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 North Lakes is worth $357,600, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $101,679, which is more affordable than 49% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,441 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Lakes | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $357,600 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,441 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $101,679 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in North Lakes
| People | North Lakes | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in North Lakes
July highs average 66.8°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 18.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.0 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of North Lakes since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 18, 2015.
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 North Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Towns near North Lakes
- South Lakes, AK2.1 mi · 5,229 people · home $377,500
- Gateway, AK4.6 mi · 5,748 people · home $446,200
- Tanaina, AK4.7 mi · 8,817 people · home $328,500
- Farm Loop, AK5.2 mi · 2,747 people · home $431,300
- Wasilla, AK5.6 mi · 9,054 people · home $358,400
- Palmer, AK6.6 mi · 5,888 people · home $294,900
- Fishhook, AK7.8 mi · 5,048 people · home $416,300
- Meadow Lakes, AK9.9 mi · 9,197 people · home $323,100
North Lakes questions
Is North Lakes, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Lakes scores better for retirees than 35% of Alaska towns and quieter than 13%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in North Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in North Lakes is valued at $357,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,679, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,441 a month.
What is the weather like in North Lakes?
July highs average 66.8°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 62.0 inches of snow.
Does North Lakes get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of North Lakes 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)