Buckland, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Buckland, Alaska had a total population of 533, the 122nd largest city in Alaska, with a median household income of $58,990, which is 36% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 36% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 1.9% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
- Unemployment rate of 30.2% is notably above the national average.
Buckland Quick Facts
How Buckland Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 629 | 533 | -15.3% |
| Median household income | $56,136 | $58,990 | +5.1% |
| Median home value | $72,000 | $86,700 | +20.4% |
How Buckland Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 63 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Buckland Rankings in Alaska
Explore Alaska Rankings
Other Cities in Northwest Arctic Borough
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotzebue | 2,984 | $110,357 | 14.4% | $288,400 |
| Kivalina | 809 | $72,589 | 22.2% | $175,000 |
| Noatak | 786 | $83,750 | 10.6% | $168,800 |
| Noorvik | 748 | $63,750 | 26.0% | $157,500 |
| Kiana | 437 | $68,333 | 17.4% | $192,500 |
| Selawik | 412 | $52,500 | 36.6% | $76,700 |
| Deering | 227 | $58,333 | 15.4% | $110,900 |
| Ambler | 182 | $40,556 | 23.6% | $96,900 |
| Shungnak | 147 | $78,750 | 24.5% | N/A |
| Kobuk | 101 | $37,917 | 25.7% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Buckland
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorne Bay | 519 | $61,250 | $270,000 | 21.6% | 4.2% |
| Kwigillingok | 545 | $56,250 | $108,700 | 4.5% | 17.0% |
| Nenana | 479 | $57,446 | $90,600 | 15.3% | 21.7% |
| Gambell | 569 | $52,500 | $117,900 | 3.4% | 30.7% |
| Gustavus | 594 | $63,558 | $330,600 | 34.4% | 10.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 533, Buckland's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Buckland is a small community located in Alaska, within Northwest Arctic Borough. The total population is 533. It ranks as the 122nd most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Buckland is 23.6 years. This is 34% lower than the state median of 35.8 years. With 40.0% of the population under 18, Buckland has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Buckland is $58,990. This is 36% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is 35% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 30.2%. This is 417% higher than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $86,700. Housing costs are 75% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Buckland is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Buckland is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. The White (non-Hispanic) population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 57.7%.
Education
1.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 94% lower than the state rate of 31.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Buckland, Alaska is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Alaska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 326 Census-designated places in Alaska. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Buckland, Alaska?
Buckland, Alaska has a population of 533 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Buckland, AK?
The median household income in Buckland is $58,990, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Buckland, AK?
The poverty rate in Buckland is 13.7%. This means approximately 72 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Buckland, Alaska?
Buckland's population is 0.8% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Buckland, AK?
The median home value in Buckland is $86,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Buckland, Alaska?
1.9% of adults (25+) in Buckland hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.