Population 966 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buffalo Soapstone
Household size in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.85 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.07 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.35 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.22 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
At 2.63 people per household, Buffalo Soapstone sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in Alaska as a whole, where it has 2.72 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.85, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.9 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.8 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.4 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Buffalo Soapstone skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Buffalo Soapstone: 5.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Buffalo Soapstone
Renters in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Buffalo Soapstone is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 12.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 44.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −8.6 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Buffalo Soapstone as nationally: 10.4%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Alaska overall (15.2%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2000 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Buffalo Soapstone is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2000, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,029 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,114 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $891 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,450 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$421 | +$451 | +$606 |
The median renter in Buffalo Soapstone pays $1,450 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. That is in line with the rest of Alaska. Rent takes 39.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Buffalo Soapstone
Bachelor's degrees in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.3% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.3% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.3% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Buffalo Soapstone (34.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is higher than in Alaska overall (31.1%).
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.4% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.4% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.2% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Buffalo Soapstone: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Alaska as a whole looks much the same.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Buffalo Soapstone
| Period | Buffalo Soapstone | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in Buffalo Soapstone is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Buffalo Soapstone compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Soapstone | 2.63 | 44.4 | 5.0% | 12.9% | 10.4% | 2000 | $1,450 | 34.3% | 94.6% | 5.5% |
| Lazy Mountain | 2.67 | 41.4 | 4.2% | 17.8% | 10.8% | 1990 | $980 | 32.7% | 96.5% | 6.5% |
| Palmer | 2.77 | 38.3 | 9.6% | 20.4% | 8.2% | 1997 | $1,521 | 31.8% | 95.0% | 5.4% |
| Eska | 2.80 | 48.6 | 4.5% | 14.2% | 21.6% | 1991 | $981 | 14.9% | 91.2% | 7.2% |
| Gateway | 3.12 | 34.5 | 9.2% | 17.5% | 6.7% | 2001 | $1,614 | 34.9% | 95.3% | 4.3% |
| Lakes | 2.91 | 37.3 | 10.6% | 20.2% | 8.1% | 1993 | $1,680 | 25.2% | 95.4% | 7.2% |
| Wasilla | 2.70 | 36.5 | 10.8% | 38.3% | 8.0% | 1997 | $1,392 | 24.4% | 95.8% | 6.3% |
| Tanaina | 3.02 | 33.8 | 14.0% | 23.1% | 6.3% | 1996 | $1,451 | 22.7% | 92.9% | 5.8% |
| Meadow Lakes | 2.78 | 37.1 | 13.6% | 23.0% | 18.7% | 1996 | $1,453 | 17.6% | 92.0% | 6.1% |
| Knik-Fairview | 3.04 | 33.1 | 10.7% | 15.3% | 9.6% | 2003 | $1,658 | 21.5% | 94.1% | 4.9% |
| Chugiak | 2.43 | 45.0 | 3.8% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,294 | 47.6% | 95.3% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rayle, GA · New Derry, PA · Norman, NC · Oak Flat, TX · Olympian Village, MO · Pacific City, OR · Pine Top, KY · Pittsview, AL · Quinby, SC · Ranger, WV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Buffalo Soapstone. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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