Shishmaref, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 466, Shishmaref'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

Shishmaref is a small community located in Alaska, within Nome Census Area. The total population is 466. It ranks as the 134th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shishmaref is 33.0 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 35.8 years. With 32.6% of the population under 18, Shishmaref has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shishmaref is $61,458. This is 34% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.9%. This is 145% 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 unemployment rate is 29.4%. This is 403% higher than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $109,400. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Shishmaref is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shishmaref is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 1.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 57.7%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 6.3%.

Education

7.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 85.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shishmaref, 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.