Population 177 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gakona
Household size in Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.45 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.99 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.54 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Gakona is a place of small households, averaging 1.99 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.53 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.4 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.1 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.1 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.7 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Gakona skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.1, 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 Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.6% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −18.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Gakona than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%.
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 Gakona
Renters in Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.3% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.2% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +12.3 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Gakona than nationally: 40.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 63.2% have no mortgage at all, well 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 Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.9% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 70.9% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 82.7% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.1% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Gakona: 58.1% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Gakona are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Alaska overall, where the median home dates to 1987.
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 Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $654 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $740 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $408 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,074 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$420 | +$451 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Gakona costs $1,074 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 17.3% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Gakona
Bachelor's degrees in Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Gakona: 21.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.3% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.1% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.6% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Gakona is close to the national rate: 88.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Alaska overall (93.3%).
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 Gakona
| Period | Gakona | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 23.2% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.5 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Gakona than nationally: unemployment was 6.7%, against 5.4%. Alaska as a whole looks much the same. 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).
Gakona 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gakona | 1.99 | 53.1 | 8.8% | 40.2% | 58.1% | 1982 | $1,074 | 21.0% | 88.4% | 6.7% |
| Gulkana | 1.99 | 53.1 | 8.8% | 40.2% | 58.1% | 1982 | $1,074 | 21.0% | 88.4% | 6.7% |
| Tazlina | 2.21 | 47.9 | 8.5% | 29.9% | 45.4% | 1987 | $1,103 | 24.1% | 91.2% | 4.2% |
| Slana | 1.99 | 53.1 | 8.8% | 40.2% | 58.1% | 1982 | $1,074 | 21.0% | 88.4% | 6.7% |
| Glennallen | 2.10 | 52.3 | 7.8% | 37.0% | 61.7% | 1984 | $1,035 | 21.7% | 90.5% | 7.7% |
| Copper Center | 2.33 | 45.2 | 8.1% | 22.5% | 38.1% | 1989 | $1,132 | 26.5% | 93.0% | 3.9% |
| Paxson | 1.99 | 53.1 | 8.8% | 40.2% | 58.1% | 1982 | $1,074 | 21.0% | 88.4% | 6.7% |
| Kenny Lake | 2.31 | 45.4 | 8.4% | 22.4% | 39.4% | 1989 | $1,117 | 25.6% | 92.5% | 3.0% |
| Tonsina | 2.31 | 45.4 | 8.4% | 22.4% | 39.4% | 1989 | $1,117 | 25.6% | 92.5% | 3.0% |
| Chitina | 2.31 | 45.4 | 8.4% | 22.4% | 39.4% | 1989 | $1,117 | 25.6% | 92.5% | 3.0% |
| Tanacross | 2.95 | 42.4 | 11.9% | 33.3% | 51.0% | 1984 | $536 | 6.0% | 83.9% | 13.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Whitman, NE · Williamsburg, TX · Iron Mountain, MO · Ironhills, IA · Wien, MO · Ivydell, TN · Whitney, AL · Jamesville, AL · Jasper Mills, OH · Jay Em, WY
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 Gakona. 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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