The Town FilesPilot Station, Alaska
City in Kusilvak Census Area · population 615 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $52,200
- Household income
- $45,000
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 21.3
Pilot Station is a city of 615 people in Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska. The median home is worth $52,200, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500).
How Pilot Station 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 Pilot Station is worth $52,200, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $45,000, which is more affordable than 96% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $675 a month. 81.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pilot Station | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $52,200 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $675 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $45,000 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 81.2% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Pilot Station
| People | Pilot Station | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.3 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.3% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 43.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.6% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 42.0% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 0.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 88.6% |
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Pilot Station since 1950.
Severe weather in Kusilvak Census Area since 1996
Kusilvak Census Area has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 23, 2023 | Flood | DR-4730: Flooding |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Kusilvak Census Area
Kusilvak Census Area had 1,959 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,914 a year. Unemployment was 15.1% in 2023; in Pilot Station itself the ACS puts it at 30%.
Public schools in Pilot Station
1 public school with 197 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Station School | PK-12 | 197 | 15.2 |
Towns near Pilot Station
- St. Mary's, AK14.3 mi · 599 people · home $122,900
- Mountain Village, AK28.3 mi · 621 people · home $50,400
Pilot Station questions
Is Pilot Station, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pilot Station scores better for retirees than 21% of Alaska towns and quieter than 40%. 8.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.3).
How much does a house cost in Pilot Station?
The median owner-occupied home in Pilot Station is valued at $52,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,000, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $675 a month.
Does Pilot Station get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Pilot Station 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)