The Town FilesSalcha, Alaska
Community in Fairbanks North Star Borough · population 977 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $311,200
- Household income
- $87,803
- Jan low / Jul high
- -18° / 72°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 45.8
Salcha is a community of 977 people in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $311,200, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Alaska towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of Alaska towns, quieter than 93% of Alaska towns.
How Salcha 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 Salcha is worth $311,200, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $87,803, which is more affordable than 49% of Alaska towns. 97.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salcha | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $311,200 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | — | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $87,803 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 97.9% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.9% | — |
Who lives in Salcha
| People | Salcha | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 21.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 35.3 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Salcha
July highs average 71.6°F and January lows -17.6°F. About 12.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.3 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 223 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Salcha since 1950.
Severe weather in Fairbanks North Star Borough since 1996
Fairbanks North Star Borough has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2025 | Fire | FM-5597: Nenana Ridge Complex |
| June 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5596: Himalaya Road Fire |
| August 3, 2023 | Fire | FM-5473: Lost Horse Creek Fire |
| March 24, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4648: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Fairbanks North Star Borough had 37,015 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,700 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Salcha itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Salcha
1 public school with 73 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salcha Elementary | PK-5 | 73 | 18.3 |
Towns near Salcha
- Eielson AFB, AK10.9 mi · 2,610 people · home —
- Moose Creek, AK15.1 mi · 534 people · home —
- North Pole, AK20.7 mi · 2,243 people · home $289,400
- Badger, AK24.1 mi · 19,031 people · home $310,600
- Pleasant Valley, AK24.3 mi · 606 people · home —
- Two Rivers, AK25.4 mi · 650 people · home $315,600
Salcha questions
Is Salcha, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salcha scores better for retirees than 82% of Alaska towns and quieter than 93%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Salcha?
The median owner-occupied home in Salcha is valued at $311,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,803, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Salcha?
July highs average 71.6°F and January lows -17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.9 inches of precipitation a year and 62.3 inches of snow.
Does Salcha get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Salcha 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)