Point Lay, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Point Lay, Alaska had a total population of 390, the 142nd largest community in Alaska, with a median household income of $104,063, which is 12% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x.
- Unemployment rate of 16.4% is notably above the national average.
Point Lay Quick Facts
How Point Lay 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 | 288 | 390 | +35.4% |
| Median household income | $92,000 | $104,063 | +13.1% |
| Median home value | $117,000 | $119,100 | +1.8% |
How Point Lay 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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 63 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Point Lay Rankings in Alaska
Explore Alaska Rankings
Other Cities in North Slope Borough
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utqiaġvik | 4,778 | $115,313 | 11.0% | $311,400 |
| Prudhoe Bay | 1,664 | N/A | 6.3% | N/A |
| Point Hope | 832 | $74,844 | 20.0% | $167,000 |
| Wainwright | 718 | $93,750 | 12.0% | $117,000 |
| Nuiqsut | 616 | $78,438 | 21.1% | $140,400 |
| Anaktuvuk Pass | 329 | $95,500 | 8.8% | $145,000 |
| Atqasuk | 288 | $90,625 | 13.9% | $122,200 |
| Kaktovik | 124 | $93,750 | 25.0% | $97,100 |
Cities Similar to Point Lay
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tazlina | 365 | $100,208 | $313,000 | 15.3% | 10.7% |
| Akiak | 377 | $78,929 | N/A | 11.5% | 21.8% |
| Anaktuvuk Pass | 329 | $95,500 | $145,000 | 15.9% | 8.8% |
| Glennallen | 450 | $89,609 | $226,800 | 18.6% | 3.3% |
| St. Paul | 378 | $158,438 | $95,000 | 15.5% | 25.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 390, Point Lay'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
Point Lay is a small community located in Alaska, within North Slope Borough. The total population is 390. It ranks as the 142nd most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Point Lay is 16.5 years. This is 54% lower than the state median of 35.8 years. With 54.6% of the population under 18, Point Lay has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Point Lay is $104,063. This is 12% higher than the state median of $92,788. It is also 29% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 16.4%. This is 180% higher than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $119,100. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Point Lay is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 45.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 66.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Point Lay is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 1.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (25.4%) is well below the state average of 57.7%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 6.3%.
Education
10.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% 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 85.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Point Lay, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Point Lay, Alaska?
Point Lay, Alaska has a population of 390 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Point Lay, AK?
The median household income in Point Lay is $104,063, which is 29% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Point Lay, AK?
The poverty rate in Point Lay is 14.4%. This means approximately 56 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Point Lay, Alaska?
Point Lay's population is 25.4% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Point Lay, AK?
The median home value in Point Lay is $119,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.1x.
How educated is Point Lay, Alaska?
10.2% of adults (25+) in Point Lay hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.