The Town FilesPrudhoe Bay, Alaska
Community in North Slope Borough · population 1,310 (2020 Census)
- Jan low / Jul high
- -22° / 55°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.0
Prudhoe Bay is a community of 1,310 people in North Slope Borough, Alaska. It ranks quieter than 100% of Alaska towns, better transit than 93% of Alaska towns.
How Prudhoe Bay 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
| Housing | Prudhoe Bay | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $289,500 |
| Median rent | — | $1,146 |
| Median household income | — | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | — | 72.6% |
| Median year built | — | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | — | — |
Who lives in Prudhoe Bay
| People | Prudhoe Bay | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 2.9% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 0.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | — | 88.6% |
Weather in Prudhoe Bay
July highs average 55.0°F and January lows -21.7°F. About 5.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.5 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 283 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Prudhoe Bay since 1950.
Severe weather in North Slope Borough since 1996
North Slope Borough has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| December 20, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4351: Severe Storm |
| October 30, 2015 | Coastal Storm | DR-4244: Severe Storm |
| December 22, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4050: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in North Slope Borough
North Slope Borough had 11,794 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $128,567 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Prudhoe Bay itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Prudhoe Bay questions
Is Prudhoe Bay, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Prudhoe Bay scores better for retirees than 33% of Alaska towns and quieter than 100%. 2.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
What is the weather like in Prudhoe Bay?
July highs average 55.0°F and January lows -21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 5.7 inches of precipitation a year and 35.5 inches of snow.
Does Prudhoe Bay get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Prudhoe Bay 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)