The Town FilesWainwright, Alaska
City in North Slope Borough · population 628 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,000
- Household income
- $93,750
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 28.4
Wainwright is a city of 628 people in North Slope Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $117,000, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks more seaside character than 71% of Alaska towns.
How Wainwright 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 Wainwright is worth $117,000, below the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $93,750, which is more affordable than 96% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $833 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wainwright | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,000 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $833 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $93,750 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wainwright
| People | Wainwright | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.4 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.0% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 37.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.6% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.5% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 6.0 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.9% | 88.6% |
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Wainwright 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 Wainwright itself the ACS puts it at 12.6%.
Public schools in Wainwright
1 public school with 159 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alak School | PK-12 | 159 | 9.9 |
Wainwright questions
Is Wainwright, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wainwright scores better for retirees than 11% of Alaska towns and quieter than 19%. 7.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.4).
How much does a house cost in Wainwright?
The median owner-occupied home in Wainwright is valued at $117,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,750, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $833 a month.
Does Wainwright get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Wainwright 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)