Nanwalek, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 199, Nanwalek'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

Nanwalek is a small community located in Alaska, within Kenai Peninsula Borough. The total population is 199. It ranks as the 186th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nanwalek is 19.6 years. This is 45% lower than the state median of 35.8 years. With 34.2% of the population under 18, Nanwalek has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nanwalek is $69,107. This is 26% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 14% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 12.0%. This is 106% higher than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $131,300. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Nanwalek is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nanwalek is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 0.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 57.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.

Education

9.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% 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 91.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Nanwalek, 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.