The Town FilesPetersburg, Alaska
Community in Petersburg Borough · population 3,043 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $308,400
- Household income
- $71,369
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 62°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 46.1
Petersburg is a community of 3,043 people in Petersburg Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $308,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Alaska towns, better for cycling than 93% of Alaska towns, better for retirees than 91% of Alaska towns.
- #2 in The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alaska
- #6 in 11 Small Towns in Alaska With the Mildest Winters
- #8 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Coolest Summers
- #8 in 50 Places in America With the Coolest Summers
- #8 in The 14 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Alaska
- #9 in The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Alaska
How Petersburg 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 Petersburg is worth $308,400, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $71,369, which is more affordable than 20% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,082 a month. 68.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Petersburg | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $308,400 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,082 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $71,369 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 68.4% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Petersburg
| People | Petersburg | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 7.0 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Petersburg
July highs average 61.7°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 110.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.6 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Petersburg since 1950.
Severe weather in Petersburg Borough since 1996
Petersburg Borough has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for biological, mud/landslide.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2021 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4585: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Petersburg Borough
Petersburg Borough had 1,228 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,599 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Petersburg itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Petersburg
3 public schools with 476 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rae C. Stedman Elementary | PK-5 | 223 | 11.7 |
| Petersburg High School | 9-12 | 131 | 11.9 |
| Mitkof Middle School | 6-8 | 122 | 15.3 |
Petersburg questions
Is Petersburg, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Petersburg scores better for retirees than 91% of Alaska towns and quieter than 89%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Petersburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Petersburg is valued at $308,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,369, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,082 a month.
What is the weather like in Petersburg?
July highs average 61.7°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 110.2 inches of precipitation a year and 85.6 inches of snow.
Does Petersburg get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Petersburg 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)