Population 6,178 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fort Richardson
Household size in Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.38 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.42 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.15 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.34 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Fort Richardson are large by national standards, averaging 3.34 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 3.38, mirroring the country. Fort Richardson has the largest households of any Alaska city with 5,000+ people.
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 Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 23.5 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 24.0 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 24.1 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Fort Richardson is young: half of its residents are under 24.1, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward families with many children. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 23.4, a smaller shift than nationally. Only one other Alaska city with 5,000+ people is younger.
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 Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.1% of households in Fort Richardson, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 10.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Fort Richardson has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Alaska cities.
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 Fort Richardson
Renters in Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.1% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 89.6% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 90.1% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 88.4% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Fort Richardson rent: 88.4% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among owners, 90.9% have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Only one other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of renters.
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 Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.1% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Fort Richardson: just 4.0% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has a lower vacancy rate.
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 Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2003 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2004 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2003 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +22 | +5 | +6 |
Fort Richardson has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2003, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only two of the 25 Alaska cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
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 Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,732 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,999 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,192 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,263 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$531 | +$451 | +$606 |
Rent in Fort Richardson runs $2,263 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $531 a month from 2006–10, a 31% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Of the 25 Alaska cities with 5,000+ people, only two have higher rents.
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 Fort Richardson
Bachelor's degrees in Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.3% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.5% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.7 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Fort Richardson (36.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is higher than in Alaska as a whole (31.1%). The share with a degree is up 16.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.5% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 99.1% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.4% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Fort Richardson: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Only one other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Fort Richardson
| Period | Fort Richardson | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Fort Richardson: 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Fort Richardson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Richardson | 3.34 | 24.1 | 5.1% | 88.4% | 4.0% | 2003 | $2,263 | 36.5% | 96.8% | 6.9% |
| Elmendorf Afb | 2.74 | 23.0 | 2.7% | 99.7% | 2.1% | 1989 | $2,047 | 42.8% | 99.8% | 4.3% |
| Eagle River | 2.70 | 35.7 | 4.9% | 19.2% | 7.0% | 1989 | $2,269 | 47.7% | 96.3% | 3.3% |
| Anchorage | 2.70 | 36.8 | 13.4% | 37.0% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,667 | 37.1% | 93.4% | 4.7% |
| Chugiak | 2.43 | 45.0 | 3.8% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,294 | 47.6% | 95.3% | 3.1% |
| Peters Creek | 2.43 | 46.5 | 2.8% | 12.9% | 9.3% | 1985 | $1,251 | 50.9% | 95.4% | 6.1% |
| Big Lake | 2.39 | 43.3 | 10.7% | 19.1% | 41.7% | 1993 | $1,166 | 13.2% | 89.0% | 2.1% |
| Knik | 2.60 | 39.4 | 6.9% | 22.7% | 26.6% | 1995 | $1,074 | 8.5% | 85.5% | 3.1% |
| Knik-Fairview | 3.04 | 33.1 | 10.7% | 15.3% | 9.6% | 2003 | $1,658 | 21.5% | 94.1% | 4.9% |
| Indian | 1.99 | 43.2 | 9.9% | 20.6% | 39.2% | 1985 | $1,849 | 50.6% | 97.9% | 0.8% |
| Meadow Lakes | 2.78 | 37.1 | 13.6% | 23.0% | 18.7% | 1996 | $1,453 | 17.6% | 92.0% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lake Norman of Catawba, NC · Imperial, PA · Indian Hill, OH · Indian River Estates, FL · Indian Springs, NV · Ingram, TX · Iola, KS · Islip Terrace, NY · Kaneohe Station, HI · Kayenta, AZ
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 Fort Richardson. 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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