The Town FilesWillow, Alaska
Community in Matanuska-Susitna Borough · population 2,196 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $313,800
- Household income
- $89,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 67°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 45.9
Willow is a community of 2,196 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $313,800, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks quieter than 89% of Alaska towns, better for families than 88% of Alaska towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Alaska towns.
How Willow 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 Willow is worth $313,800, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $89,000, which is more affordable than 49% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,375 a month. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willow | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $313,800 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,375 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $89,000 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 55.4% | — |
Who lives in Willow
| People | Willow | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 20.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 18.8% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 65.2 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 88.6% |
Weather in Willow
July highs average 66.8°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 18.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.0 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Willow since 1950.
Severe weather in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since 1996
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4904: Severe Storm |
| March 14, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4646: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| August 22, 2019 | Fire | FM-5290: Deshka Landing Fire |
Jobs and pay in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough had 29,515 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,329 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Willow itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Towns near Willow
- Fishhook, AK15.4 mi · 5,048 people · home $416,300
- Tanaina, AK17.1 mi · 8,817 people · home $328,500
- Meadow Lakes, AK17.2 mi · 9,197 people · home $323,100
- Susitna North, AK18.5 mi · 1,564 people · home $257,800
- Houston, AK19.7 mi · 1,975 people · home $295,000
- North Lakes, AK21.1 mi · 9,450 people · home $357,600
- Buffalo Soapstone, AK21.5 mi · 1,021 people · home $289,300
- Wasilla, AK21.8 mi · 9,054 people · home $358,400
Willow questions
Is Willow, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willow scores better for retirees than 74% of Alaska towns and quieter than 89%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Willow?
The median owner-occupied home in Willow is valued at $313,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,000, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,375 a month.
What is the weather like in Willow?
July highs average 66.8°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 62.0 inches of snow.
Does Willow get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Willow 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)