Nelson Lagoon, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 78, Nelson Lagoon'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

Nelson Lagoon is a small community located in Alaska, within Aleutians East Borough. The total population is 78. It ranks as the 244th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nelson Lagoon is 53.7 years. This is 50% higher than the state median of 35.8 years. 23.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nelson Lagoon is $77,917. This is 16% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.8%. This is 115% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Nelson Lagoon, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $205,800. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Nelson Lagoon is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 50% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nelson Lagoon is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. The White (non-Hispanic) population (10.3%) is well below the state average of 57.7%.

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 64.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Nelson Lagoon, 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.