The Town FilesSelawik, Alaska
City in Northwest Arctic Borough · population 809 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $76,700
- Household income
- $52,500
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 17.9
Selawik is a city of 809 people in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $76,700, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500).
How Selawik 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 Selawik is worth $76,700, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 91% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $633 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Selawik | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $76,700 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $633 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Selawik
| People | Selawik | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 17.9 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.2% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 50.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.7% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 5.9 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.6% |
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Selawik since 1950.
Severe weather in Northwest Arctic Borough since 1996
Northwest Arctic Borough has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4893: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong |
| January 15, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4859: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| December 9, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1618: Severe Fall Storm, Tidal Surges, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Northwest Arctic Borough
Northwest Arctic Borough had 2,999 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $89,651 a year. Unemployment was 9.6% in 2023; in Selawik itself the ACS puts it at 36.5%.
Selawik questions
Is Selawik, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Selawik scores better for retirees than 0% of Alaska towns and quieter than 68%. 9.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 17.9).
How much does a house cost in Selawik?
The median owner-occupied home in Selawik is valued at $76,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $633 a month.
Does Selawik get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Selawik 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)