Fairbanks, AK

Full City Profile · Alaska · Fairbanks North Star Borough County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
32,242 Population 1,014/sq mi density
$72,077 Median Income $36,392 per capita
$255,700 Home Value $305,391 Zillow
$1,470 Median Rent 31.3% income on rent
28°F Avg Temperature
726 Violent Crime/100K 3,504 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$72,077 median income, 5.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.7 / 5.0
$255,700 home value, $1,470/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
726 violent crimes/100K (91% above avg)
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
26.5% bachelor's degree or higher

Fairbanks, AK

At a Glance

Median Income
$72,077
4% below
$36,392 per capita
Home Value
$255,700
9% below
Zillow: $305,391
Median Rent
$1,470/mo
26% above
31.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
726/100K
91% above
3,504/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
26.5%
21% below
93.8% high school+
Unemployment
5.8%
61% above
5.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.0%
18% above
16.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
28°F

How Fairbanks Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Fairbanks's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
96%
Home Value
91%
Rent
126%
Poverty
42%
Bachelor's
79%
Unemployment
161%
Crime
191%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Fairbanks a Good Place to Live?

B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Fairbanks residents earn a median household income of $72,077 , which is 4% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $36,392. The unemployment rate stands at 5.8% (61% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,441 business establishments, including 247 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Fairbanks is $255,700 , 9% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $305,391. Median rent is $1,470/month, with 31.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 102.4 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1980.

Safety & Crime

Fairbanks reports 726 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 91% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 3,504/100K. The murder rate is 6.3/100K.

Education

26.5% of adults in Fairbanks hold a bachelor's degree or higher (21% below the national average). 93.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Fairbanks has an average annual temperature of 28°F (-2°C). Winters average -8°F in January while summers reach 63°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 11.7 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42.

Data Overview

People

Population32,242
Median Age28.6 yrs
Density1,014/mi²
Male / Female54% / 46%
Foreign Born6.8%
Veterans10.7%

Economy

B+
Median Income$72,077
Per Capita$36,392
Unemployment5.8%
Poverty5.2%
County GDP$7,891M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,340

Housing

A+
Home Value$255,700
Rent$1,470
Ownership40.5%
Zillow$305,391
Housing Units13,806
Rent Burden31.3%

Crime

F
Violent726/100K
Property3,504/100K
Murder6.3/100K
Assault442/100K
Burglary300/100K

Health

Obesity38.0%
Diabetes9.9%
Smoking16.8%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death8,713/100K

Climate

Avg Temp28°F
Rain11.7 in/yr
AQI42 (Good)
Elevation459 ft

Education

B
Bachelor's+26.5%
High School+93.8%
Graduate+9.2%
School Score5.3/10

Community

2024 VoteR 56% / D 44%
Commute14 min
Broadband87.4%
Internet Speed115 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries3

Did You Know?

Fairbanks was founded in 1901.
The median home in Fairbanks was built in 1980.
The nearest airport is Fairbanks International (6 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.424 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
14.9% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 115 Mbps.
There are 247 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 9 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.