Ketchikan, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ketchikan, Alaska had a total population of 8,078, the 13th largest city in Alaska, with a median household income of $85,275, which is 8% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Ketchikan Quick Facts
How Ketchikan 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 | 8,151 | 8,078 | -0.9% |
| Median household income | $76,835 | $85,275 | +11.0% |
| Median home value | $340,300 | $352,400 | +3.6% |
How Ketchikan 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 diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 63 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Ketchikan Rankings in Alaska
Explore Alaska Rankings
Other Cities in Ketchikan Gateway Borough
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saxman | 324 | $51,250 | 16.4% | $305,900 |
Cities Similar to Ketchikan
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenai | 7,641 | $87,083 | $283,900 | 28.1% | 13.2% |
| Meadow Lakes | 8,689 | $81,699 | $323,100 | 15.8% | 14.1% |
| Kalifornsky | 8,663 | $93,508 | $336,800 | 31.6% | 8.6% |
| Sitka | 8,368 | $101,727 | $450,300 | 34.3% | 7.5% |
| Tanaina | 9,646 | $105,536 | $328,500 | 24.5% | 8.6% |
Population Overview
Ketchikan is a small city located in Alaska, within Ketchikan Gateway Borough. The total population is 8,078. It ranks as the 13th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ketchikan is 37.4 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 35.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ketchikan is $85,275. This is 8% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 6% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $352,400. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $352,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 61.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 66.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Ketchikan is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 13.9%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.9%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (13.9% vs 6.3%).
Education
24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 95.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Ketchikan, 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.
Free data download: Get all Alaska city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ketchikan, Alaska?
Ketchikan, Alaska has a population of 8,078 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Ketchikan, AK?
The median household income in Ketchikan is $85,275, which is 6% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Ketchikan, AK?
The poverty rate in Ketchikan is 11.2%. This means approximately 886 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Ketchikan, Alaska?
Ketchikan's population is 52.0% White, 0.7% Black, 6.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 13.9% Asian.
What is the median home value in Ketchikan, AK?
The median home value in Ketchikan is $352,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x.
How educated is Ketchikan, Alaska?
24.5% of adults (25+) in Ketchikan hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.