Population 35,064 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fairbanks
Household size in Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Fairbanks are small: just 2.34 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.42, mirroring the country. Only one other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has smaller households.
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 Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.6 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.2 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.2 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Fairbanks is 37.2 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 36.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the center.
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 Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Fairbanks than nationally: 10.5%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, as it has 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 Fairbanks
Renters in Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.7% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.6% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.4% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.2% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than four in ten households in Fairbanks rent their homes (43.2%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among owners, 44.2% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 5.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Fairbanks: 13.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Even so, 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 Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Fairbanks are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Alaska as a whole, where the median home dates to 1987. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
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 Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $868 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,119 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,078 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,285 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$417 | +$451 | +$606 |
Rent in Fairbanks runs $1,285 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $417 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the east.
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 Fairbanks
Bachelor's degrees in Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.6% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.0% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.0% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.2% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly a third of adults 25 and older in Fairbanks (32.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.6 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
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 Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.6% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.3% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Fairbanks is above the national rate: 94.3% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Alaska as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 Fairbanks
| Period | Fairbanks | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in Fairbanks is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Alaska as a whole (6.2%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
Fairbanks 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | 2.34 | 37.2 | 10.5% | 43.2% | 13.1% | 1981 | $1,285 | 32.2% | 94.3% | 4.8% |
| College | 2.65 | 35.6 | 7.5% | 36.9% | 11.4% | 1981 | $1,467 | 39.4% | 95.5% | 3.5% |
| South Van Horn | 2.42 | 48.9 | 6.8% | 9.9% | 15.6% | 1974 | $1,350 | 9.9% | 92.7% | 14.3% |
| Fort Wainwright | 3.28 | 23.5 | 1.5% | 94.9% | 11.2% | 2003 | $2,277 | 29.5% | 98.4% | 10.9% |
| Farmers Loop | 2.66 | 37.2 | 6.8% | 18.7% | 19.9% | 1985 | $1,329 | 33.9% | 96.4% | 2.8% |
| Steele Creek | 2.73 | 42.0 | 5.0% | 10.4% | 18.4% | 1993 | $1,424 | 35.1% | 95.1% | 0.5% |
| Ester | 2.11 | 41.2 | 4.3% | 25.4% | 13.3% | 1993 | $934 | 57.8% | 97.9% | 6.4% |
| Badger | 2.80 | 34.7 | 9.0% | 20.5% | 10.8% | 1986 | $1,654 | 22.8% | 93.4% | 6.9% |
| North Pole | 2.61 | 31.0 | 7.9% | 39.1% | 14.8% | 1986 | $1,478 | 29.8% | 94.7% | 3.9% |
| Eielson Afb | 3.10 | 26.8 | 5.6% | 80.6% | 14.0% | 1996 | $2,005 | 39.8% | 95.0% | 11.3% |
| Pleasant Valley | 2.48 | 46.7 | 2.7% | 15.0% | 33.0% | 1991 | $1,098 | 59.5% | 94.0% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Staunton, VA · Fair Lawn, NJ · Fairhope, AL · Farmers Branch, TX · Farmington, MN · Gaffney, SC · Glendale Heights, IL · Redan, GA · Rubidoux, CA · Seneca, SC
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 Fairbanks. 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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