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Kenai, AK

Full City Profile · Alaska · Kenai Peninsula Borough County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
7,562 Population 260/sq mi density
$74,907 Median Income $39,104 per capita
$249,400 Home Value $313,253 Zillow
$1,134 Median Rent 22.5% income on rent
36°F Avg Temperature 274 sunny days/yr
954 Violent Crime/100K 5,673 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$74,907 median income, 5.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$249,400 home value, $1,134/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
954 violent crimes/100K (151% above avg)
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
24.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Kenai, AK

At a Glance

Median Income
$74,907
0% below
$39,104 per capita
Home Value
$249,400
12% below
Zillow: $313,253
Median Rent
$1,134/mo
2% below
22.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
954/100K
151% above
5,673/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
24.1%
28% below
94.7% high school+
Unemployment
5.6%
56% above
5.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
32.5%
1% above
17.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
36°F
274 sunny days/yr

How Kenai Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
100%
Home Value
88%
Rent
98%
Poverty
46%
Bachelor's
72%
Unemployment
156%
Crime
251%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Kenai 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

Kenai residents earn a median household income of $74,907 , which is 0% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $39,104. The unemployment rate stands at 5.6% (56% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,368 business establishments, including 314 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Kenai is $249,400 , 12% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $313,253. Median rent is $1,134/month, with 22.5% 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 1981.

Safety & Crime

Kenai reports 954 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 151% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 5,673/100K. The murder rate is 25.4/100K.

Education

24.1% of adults in Kenai hold a bachelor's degree or higher (28% below the national average). 94.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.0/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Kenai has an average annual temperature of 36°F (2°C). Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 56°F in July. The area gets 274 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 18.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 21.

Data Overview

People

Population7,562
Median Age34.1 yrs
Density260/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.1%

Economy

B+
Median Income$74,907
Per Capita$39,104
Unemployment5.6%
Poverty5.7%
County GDP$3,590M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,200

Housing

A+
Home Value$249,400
Rent$1,134
Ownership64.8%
Zillow$313,253
Housing Units3,243
Rent Burden22.5%

Crime

F
Violent954/100K
Property5,673/100K
Murder25.4/100K
Assault534/100K
Burglary585/100K

Health

Obesity32.5%
Diabetes8.2%
Smoking17.3%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death8,874/100K

Climate

Avg Temp36°F
Sunny Days274/yr
Rain18.3 in/yr
AQI21 (Good)
Elevation87 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+24.1%
High School+94.7%
Graduate+9.1%
School Score6.0/10

Community

2024 VoteR 56% / D 44%
Commute14 min
Broadband90.3%
Internet Speed82 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries11

Did You Know?

Kenai was founded in 1960.
The median home in Kenai was built in 1981.
The nearest airport is Ted Stevens Anchorage International (59 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.454 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
12.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 314 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 13 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.