Population 9,052 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lakes
Household size in Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.82 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.08 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.48 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.91 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Lakes are large by national standards, averaging 2.91 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.82, even as the national average fell.
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 Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.1 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.8 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.3 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lakes is 37.3 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.0, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
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 Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Lakes (10.6%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Alaska cities, though, Lakes has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Lakes
Renters in Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.5% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.3% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.2% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 20.2% of households in Lakes rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 28.9% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the center. The renter share is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Lakes as nationally: 8.1%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Alaska as a whole (15.2%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.8 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Lakes has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1988 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,076 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,153 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,249 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,680 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$603 | +$451 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lakes costs $1,680 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $603 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the south.
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 Lakes
Bachelor's degrees in Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.2% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Lakes have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 25.2%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.1 points, a smaller shift than 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 Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.9% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.0% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.8% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lakes: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged down 0.6 points, even as the national rate rose.
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 Lakes
| Period | Lakes | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Lakes: 7.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Lakes has higher unemployment than at least four in five Alaska cities. 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).
Lakes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes | 2.91 | 37.3 | 10.6% | 20.2% | 8.1% | 1993 | $1,680 | 25.2% | 95.4% | 7.2% |
| Wasilla | 2.70 | 36.5 | 10.8% | 38.3% | 8.0% | 1997 | $1,392 | 24.4% | 95.8% | 6.3% |
| Gateway | 3.12 | 34.5 | 9.2% | 17.5% | 6.7% | 2001 | $1,614 | 34.9% | 95.3% | 4.3% |
| Tanaina | 3.02 | 33.8 | 14.0% | 23.1% | 6.3% | 1996 | $1,451 | 22.7% | 92.9% | 5.8% |
| Palmer | 2.77 | 38.3 | 9.6% | 20.4% | 8.2% | 1997 | $1,521 | 31.8% | 95.0% | 5.4% |
| Buffalo Soapstone | 2.63 | 44.4 | 5.0% | 12.9% | 10.4% | 2000 | $1,450 | 34.3% | 94.6% | 5.5% |
| Meadow Lakes | 2.78 | 37.1 | 13.6% | 23.0% | 18.7% | 1996 | $1,453 | 17.6% | 92.0% | 6.1% |
| Knik-Fairview | 3.04 | 33.1 | 10.7% | 15.3% | 9.6% | 2003 | $1,658 | 21.5% | 94.1% | 4.9% |
| Lazy Mountain | 2.67 | 41.4 | 4.2% | 17.8% | 10.8% | 1990 | $980 | 32.7% | 96.5% | 6.5% |
| Eska | 2.80 | 48.6 | 4.5% | 14.2% | 21.6% | 1991 | $981 | 14.9% | 91.2% | 7.2% |
| Chugiak | 2.43 | 45.0 | 3.8% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,294 | 47.6% | 95.3% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rocky Face, GA · Memphis, FL · Meridianville, AL · Merrydale, LA · Ridgeway, VA · River Oaks, TX · Riverside, CT · Riverside, IL · Riviera Beach, MD · Robertsville, NJ
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 Lakes. 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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