The Town FilesSouth Van Horn, Alaska
Community in Fairbanks North Star Borough · population 503 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $41,500
- Household income
- $73,214
- Jan low / Jul high
- -14° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 46.2
South Van Horn is a community of 503 people in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $41,500, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Alaska towns, better for retirees than 98% of Alaska towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Alaska towns.
How South Van Horn 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 South Van Horn is worth $41,500, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 0.6 times the median household income of $73,214, which is more affordable than 100% of Alaska towns. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Van Horn | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $41,500 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | — | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $73,214 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.6× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in South Van Horn
| People | South Van Horn | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 13.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 10.8 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in South Van Horn
July highs average 73.0°F and January lows -13.7°F. About 12.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.5 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 226 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of South Van Horn since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on June 19, 2025.
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 South Van Horn itself the ACS puts it at 16.8%.
Towns near South Van Horn
- College, AK4.1 mi · 11,332 people · home $297,500
- Fairbanks, AK4.4 mi · 32,515 people · home $268,400
- Chena Ridge, AK7.3 mi · 6,015 people · home $395,500
- Farmers Loop, AK7.3 mi · 4,704 people · home $279,800
- Ester, AK8.8 mi · 2,416 people · home $255,400
- Goldstream, AK11.5 mi · 3,299 people · home $289,600
- Badger, AK11.6 mi · 19,031 people · home $310,600
- Steele Creek, AK13.1 mi · 6,437 people · home $348,400
South Van Horn questions
Is South Van Horn, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Van Horn scores better for retirees than 98% of Alaska towns and quieter than 82%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in South Van Horn?
The median owner-occupied home in South Van Horn is valued at $41,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,214, so homes cost about 0.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in South Van Horn?
July highs average 73.0°F and January lows -13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.6 inches of precipitation a year and 51.5 inches of snow.
Does South Van Horn get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of South Van Horn 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)