Galena, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 611, Galena'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

Galena is a small community located in Alaska, within Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. The total population is 611. It ranks as the 113th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Galena is 35.3 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 35.8 years. With 29.9% of the population under 18, Galena has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Galena is $87,875. This is 5% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 9% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 0.3%. This is 95% lower than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $107,000. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Galena is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Galena is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (23.9%) is well below the state average of 57.7%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 6.3%.

Education

37.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% higher 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 95.3%. Notably, 20.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Galena, 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.