Knik River, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Knik River, Alaska had a total population of 883, the 80th largest community in Alaska, with a median household income of $109,464, which is 18% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 6.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.8%.
Knik River Quick Facts
How Knik River 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 | 858 | 883 | +2.9% |
| Median household income | $100,417 | $109,464 | +9.0% |
| Median home value | $266,800 | $304,400 | +14.1% |
How Knik River 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+)
Knik River Rankings in Alaska
Explore Alaska Rankings
Other Cities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knik-Fairview | 19,972 | $96,437 | 9.2% | $340,200 |
| North Lakes | 10,223 | $101,679 | 7.3% | $357,600 |
| Wasilla | 9,720 | $67,234 | 17.5% | $358,400 |
| Tanaina | 9,646 | $105,536 | 8.6% | $328,500 |
| Meadow Lakes | 8,689 | $81,699 | 14.1% | $323,100 |
| Gateway | 6,845 | $137,772 | 4.5% | $446,200 |
| Palmer | 6,268 | $72,201 | 13.0% | $294,900 |
| South Lakes | 6,180 | $98,141 | 7.6% | $377,500 |
| Fishhook | 5,819 | $111,375 | 9.2% | $416,300 |
| Butte | 4,085 | $101,042 | 6.7% | $374,600 |
Cities Similar to Knik River
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Womens Bay | 788 | N/A | $438,200 | 41.7% | 10.5% |
| Salcha | 829 | $87,803 | $311,200 | 26.3% | 8.8% |
| Hoonah | 862 | $80,500 | $329,400 | 20.0% | 16.9% |
| Denali Park | 819 | $80,938 | $416,700 | 22.1% | 5.1% |
| Point Hope | 832 | $74,844 | $167,000 | 3.2% | 20.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 883, Knik River'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
Knik River is a small community located in Alaska, within Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The total population is 883. It ranks as the 80th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Knik River is 40.5 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 35.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Knik River is $109,464. This is 18% higher than the state median of $92,788. It is also 36% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.3%. This is 37% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 0.8%. This is 86% lower than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $304,400. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Knik River is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 66.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Knik River has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%.
Education
28.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 83.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Knik River, 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 Knik River, Alaska?
Knik River, Alaska has a population of 883 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Knik River, AK?
The median household income in Knik River is $109,464, which is 36% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Knik River, AK?
The poverty rate in Knik River is 6.3%. This means approximately 56 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Knik River, Alaska?
Knik River's population is 85.5% White, 0.0% Black, 4.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Knik River, AK?
The median home value in Knik River is $304,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.8x.
How educated is Knik River, Alaska?
28.7% of adults (25+) in Knik River hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.