South Naknek, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 73, South Naknek'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

South Naknek is a small community located in Alaska, within Bristol Bay Borough. The total population is 73. It ranks as the 247th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Naknek is 49.4 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 35.8 years. 16.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Naknek is $54,063. This is 42% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 103% 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 25.0%. This is 327% higher than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $96,700. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, South Naknek is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 55.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

South Naknek is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. The White (non-Hispanic) population (16.4%) is well below the state average of 57.7%.

Education

4.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 87% 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 94.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Naknek, 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.