Population 2,088 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Girdwood
Household size in Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.14 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Girdwood are small: just 2.22 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.
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 Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.6 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.3 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.0 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.7 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Girdwood skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 40.4 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Girdwood 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 Girdwood
Renters in Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 48.1% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.5% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −11.9 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Girdwood is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over three in ten owners (31.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below 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 Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.1% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 47.0% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.2% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Girdwood: 40.2% 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 Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +5 | +6 |
Girdwood has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of Alaska.
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 Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,061 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,000 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,278 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,849 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$788 | +$451 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Girdwood costs $1,849 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 28.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Girdwood
Bachelor's degrees in Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.6% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.9% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.0% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.3% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
Girdwood is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (51.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above 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 Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.2% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 100.0% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.4% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.5% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Girdwood: 98.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Girdwood
| Period | Girdwood | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.3% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.0% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Girdwood: 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above 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).
Girdwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Girdwood | 2.22 | 46.0 | 8.8% | 14.6% | 40.2% | 1990 | $1,849 | 51.3% | 98.5% | 7.7% |
| Indian | 1.99 | 43.2 | 9.9% | 20.6% | 39.2% | 1985 | $1,849 | 50.6% | 97.9% | 0.8% |
| Hope | 2.14 | 43.9 | 8.1% | 31.9% | 70.5% | 1980 | $1,404 | 31.8% | 95.8% | 0.2% |
| Whittier | 2.46 | 31.8 | 9.5% | 60.7% | 63.5% | 1956 | $962 | 29.6% | 92.4% | 6.0% |
| Fort Richardson | 3.34 | 24.1 | 5.1% | 88.4% | 4.0% | 2003 | $2,263 | 36.5% | 96.8% | 6.9% |
| 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% |
| Peters Creek | 2.43 | 46.5 | 2.8% | 12.9% | 9.3% | 1985 | $1,251 | 50.9% | 95.4% | 6.1% |
| Elmendorf Afb | 2.74 | 23.0 | 2.7% | 99.7% | 2.1% | 1989 | $2,047 | 42.8% | 99.8% | 4.3% |
| Chugiak | 2.43 | 45.0 | 3.8% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,294 | 47.6% | 95.3% | 3.1% |
| Moose Pass | 2.14 | 43.9 | 8.1% | 31.9% | 70.5% | 1980 | $1,404 | 31.8% | 95.8% | 0.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mooreland, OK · Elk Rapids, MI · Foreman, AR · Friendship, NY · Good Hope, GA · Graham, GA · Wawaka, IN · Wakeeney, KS · Trumbauersville, PA · Syracuse, KS
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 Girdwood. 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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