Population 3,559 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in North Star
Household size in North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.13 | 2.67 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.77 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.04 | 2.72 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.70 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | +0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in North Star are small: just 2.25 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 has climbed from 2.13 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 35.2 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 35.4 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.0 | 36.1 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.5 | 36.8 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +1.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of North Star is 38.5 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Still, the population here is older than in Anchorage as a whole, where the median age is 36.8.
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 North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 14.8% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 14.0% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 13.0% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 13.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in North Star (12.7%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Anchorage.
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 North Star
Renters in North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.4% | 39.1% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 64.0% | 40.0% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 66.1% | 38.2% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 57.4% | 37.0% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in North Star rent: 57.4% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. About four in ten owners (39.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.
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 North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 7.9% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 10.4% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 10.6% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +11.3 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in North Star: 18.4% 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. Of Anchorage's 22 neighborhoods, only two have a higher 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 North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1980 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1980 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1981 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1982 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +2 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in North Star run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. North Star has older homes than the great majority of Anchorage neighborhoods.
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 North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,040 | $1,182 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,063 | $1,263 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,158 | $1,511 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,291 | $1,667 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$251 | +$486 | +$451 | +$606 |
A typical rental in North Star costs $1,291 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 27.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. North Star has lower rents than at least four in five Anchorage neighborhoods.
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 North Star
Bachelor's degrees in North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.8% | 31.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.1% | 31.6% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.7% | 34.6% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 37.1% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +5.3 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in North Star as nationally: 34.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 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 North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.4% | 90.8% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.3% | 91.4% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 93.1% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.3% | 93.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +2.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in North Star: 96.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. North Star has a higher share of high school graduates than most Anchorage neighborhoods.
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 North Star
| Period | North Star | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 5.9% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.3% | 4.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.5 pts | −3.2 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in North Star has been low: just 0.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. No other Anchorage neighborhood has lower 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).
North Star compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Star | 2.25 | 38.5 | 12.7% | 57.4% | 18.4% | 1975 | $1,291 | 34.9% | 96.3% | 0.3% |
| South Addition | 2.12 | 44.6 | 6.2% | 49.0% | 19.1% | 1971 | $1,791 | 56.8% | 98.8% | 1.4% |
| Midtown | 1.94 | 33.6 | 16.5% | 74.3% | 17.6% | 1977 | $1,196 | 35.5% | 87.8% | 4.8% |
| Fairview | 2.16 | 35.9 | 17.6% | 78.8% | 16.4% | 1975 | $1,227 | 20.4% | 89.3% | 6.0% |
| Spenard | 2.29 | 35.9 | 14.4% | 63.2% | 22.3% | 1974 | $1,293 | 26.5% | 91.2% | 7.4% |
| Rogers Park | 2.98 | 44.0 | 3.3% | 11.3% | 10.0% | 1968 | $1,876 | 48.6% | 93.3% | 2.7% |
| Turnagain | 2.65 | 41.1 | 12.9% | 30.5% | 11.5% | 1977 | $1,746 | 48.2% | 95.1% | 7.0% |
| Airport Heights | 2.67 | 34.8 | 11.4% | 34.7% | 12.4% | 1972 | $1,430 | 41.3% | 92.0% | 8.8% |
| Campbell Park | 2.66 | 30.8 | 24.0% | 39.3% | 10.1% | 1980 | $1,853 | 29.0% | 93.7% | 3.7% |
| Taku-Campbell | 2.62 | 35.3 | 12.1% | 40.8% | 10.7% | 1984 | $1,703 | 29.8% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Mountain View | 3.05 | 24.6 | 30.2% | 70.4% | 14.3% | 1976 | $1,203 | 8.8% | 87.5% | 8.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Garden City, Cranston, RI · Melrose-Rugby, Roanoke, VA · Rosemont North, Orlando, FL · Lackawanna, Jacksonville, FL · Las Palmas, San Antonio, TX · Moorland-Rimrock, Madison, WI · North Sifton-Orchards Area, Orchards, WA · Plymouth-Exchange, Rochester, NY · Riverwalk, Porter, TX · Live Oaks Square, Tampa, FL
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 North Star. 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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