Nikolai, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 44, Nikolai'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

Nikolai is a small community located in Alaska, within Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. The total population is 44. It ranks as the 272nd most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nikolai is 45.5 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 35.8 years. Only 11.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 20.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 15.9%. This is 57% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Nikolai, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $100,000. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $352,900. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nikolai is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 57.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.

Education

2.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 92% 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 79.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Nikolai, 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.