The Town FilesWrangell, Alaska
City and borough in Wrangell City and Borough · population 2,127 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,400
- Household income
- $63,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 66°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 48.1
Wrangell is a city and borough of 2,127 people in Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $296,400, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Alaska towns, more seaside character than 96% of Alaska towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Alaska towns.
How Wrangell 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 Wrangell is worth $296,400, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $63,750, which is more affordable than 17% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $993 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wrangell | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,400 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $993 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.6% | — |
Who lives in Wrangell
| People | Wrangell | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.4% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 8.5 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Wrangell
July highs average 65.5°F and January lows 28.1°F. About 85.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Wrangell since 1950.
Severe weather in Wrangell City and Borough since 1996
Wrangell City and Borough has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for biological, mud/landslide.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 6, 2024 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4767: Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Wrangell City and Borough
Wrangell City and Borough had 778 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,956 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Wrangell itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Wrangell questions
Is Wrangell, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wrangell scores better for retirees than 99% of Alaska towns and quieter than 85%. 27.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.1).
How much does a house cost in Wrangell?
The median owner-occupied home in Wrangell is valued at $296,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,750, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $993 a month.
What is the weather like in Wrangell?
July highs average 65.5°F and January lows 28.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 85.2 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Wrangell get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Wrangell 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)