Whale Pass, Alaska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 54, Whale Pass'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

Whale Pass is a small community located in Alaska, within Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area. The total population is 54. It ranks as the 260th most populous out of 326 Census-designated places in Alaska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Whale Pass is 67.8 years. This is 89% higher than the state median of 35.8 years. Only 9.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 24.1% 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 Whale Pass is $34,821. This is 62% lower than the state median of $92,788. It is also 57% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 10% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 15.8%. This is 170% higher than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $239,300. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $352,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 85.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Whale Pass was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 85.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Whale Pass, 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.