Population 9,135 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Fort Wainwright: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Fort Wainwright
Household size in Fort Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.45 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.45 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.38 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.28 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Fort Wainwright is a place of big households: 3.28 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has dropped from 3.45 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has larger 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 Fort Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.2 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 22.2 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 22.9 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 23.5 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Fort Wainwright is young: half of its residents are under 23.5, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 22.2, mirroring the country. No 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 Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −13.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 1.5% of households in Fort Wainwright, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 13.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Fort Wainwright has the lowest share of single-parent households of any Alaska city with 5,000+ people.
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 Wainwright
Renters in Fort Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.8% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 95.0% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 95.9% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Fort Wainwright: 94.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 96.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.0 points, as it has nationally. Fort Wainwright has the highest share of renters of any Alaska city with 5,000+ people.
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 Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −15.4 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Fort Wainwright than nationally: 11.2%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Still, 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 Fort Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2000 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2001 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2003 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +22 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Fort Wainwright is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2003, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only one other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has 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 Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,718 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,977 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,046 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,277 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$558 | +$451 | +$606 |
The median renter in Fort Wainwright pays $2,277 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $558 a month since 2006–10, up 33%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 38.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Fort Wainwright has the highest rents of any Alaska city with 5,000+ people.
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 Wainwright
Bachelor's degrees in Fort Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.0% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.3% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.5% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Fort Wainwright than nationally: 29.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The picture is much the same across Alaska. The share with a degree has risen 8.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.7% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.1% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.3% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Fort Wainwright: 98.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. No 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 Wainwright
| Period | Fort Wainwright | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fort Wainwright runs well above the national rate: 10.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. No other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has higher unemployment. 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 Wainwright 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 Wainwright | 3.28 | 23.5 | 1.5% | 94.9% | 11.2% | 2003 | $2,277 | 29.5% | 98.4% | 10.9% |
| South Van Horn | 2.42 | 48.9 | 6.8% | 9.9% | 15.6% | 1974 | $1,350 | 9.9% | 92.7% | 14.3% |
| Fairbanks | 2.34 | 37.2 | 10.5% | 43.2% | 13.1% | 1981 | $1,285 | 32.2% | 94.3% | 4.8% |
| Farmers Loop | 2.66 | 37.2 | 6.8% | 18.7% | 19.9% | 1985 | $1,329 | 33.9% | 96.4% | 2.8% |
| College | 2.65 | 35.6 | 7.5% | 36.9% | 11.4% | 1981 | $1,467 | 39.4% | 95.5% | 3.5% |
| Steele Creek | 2.73 | 42.0 | 5.0% | 10.4% | 18.4% | 1993 | $1,424 | 35.1% | 95.1% | 0.5% |
| 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% |
| Ester | 2.11 | 41.2 | 4.3% | 25.4% | 13.3% | 1993 | $934 | 57.8% | 97.9% | 6.4% |
| 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: Portland, CT · Madison, GA · Maywood, NJ · Mendham, NJ · Pinehurst, TX · Pingree Grove, IL · Pleasant Valley, NY · Pocahontas, AR · Pomona, NY · Poplar Grove, IL
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 Wainwright. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.