Population 9,391 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Soldotna
Household size in Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Soldotna are small: just 2.32 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 crept up from 2.29 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. No other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has smaller 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 Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.5 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.1 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Soldotna skews older than the country: its median age is 43.1, against 40.1 nationally. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the southeast. Only one other Alaska city with 5,000+ people is older.
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 Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Soldotna: 7.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Soldotna
Renters in Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.1% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.4% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.4% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Soldotna rent their homes (27.4%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 42.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.1 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.6% of the housing in Soldotna, 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. Vacancy is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, 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 Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +5 | +6 |
Soldotna has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1994, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $816 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,031 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,062 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,168 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$352 | +$451 | +$606 |
Rent in Soldotna runs $1,168 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $352 a month from 2006–10, a 43% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. No other Alaska city with 5,000+ people has lower rents.
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 Soldotna
Bachelor's degrees in Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.1% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.5% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.2% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Soldotna (27.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the center.
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 Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.4% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.9% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Soldotna: 96.5% 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 risen 4.0 points, mirroring the country. Of the 25 Alaska cities with 5,000+ people, only two have 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 Soldotna
| Period | Soldotna | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Soldotna: 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. 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).
Soldotna 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldotna | 2.32 | 43.1 | 7.1% | 27.4% | 19.6% | 1994 | $1,168 | 27.2% | 96.5% | 6.7% |
| Kalifornsky | 2.54 | 40.3 | 12.4% | 14.9% | 17.8% | 1995 | $1,415 | 31.0% | 94.5% | 4.6% |
| Kenai | 2.50 | 36.7 | 14.0% | 26.7% | 14.6% | 1986 | $1,277 | 27.6% | 95.1% | 10.6% |
| Sterling | 2.24 | 46.0 | 0.9% | 13.2% | 30.6% | 1994 | $1,259 | 26.9% | 96.5% | 5.3% |
| Kasilof | 2.31 | 50.3 | 4.7% | 16.4% | 29.7% | 1995 | $1,448 | 27.3% | 94.7% | 10.3% |
| Nikiski | 2.99 | 36.8 | 6.5% | 20.9% | 19.1% | 1985 | $1,164 | 15.1% | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| Clam Gulch | 2.17 | 54.7 | 5.3% | 13.5% | 41.0% | 1995 | $1,216 | 26.9% | 93.0% | 6.0% |
| Cohoe | 2.26 | 51.6 | 3.8% | 16.6% | 32.4% | 1995 | $1,444 | 27.4% | 95.3% | 11.5% |
| Ninilchik | 2.14 | 57.0 | 6.7% | 13.4% | 47.2% | 1994 | $900 | 25.7% | 90.8% | 5.6% |
| Tyonek | 3.11 | 30.3 | 22.1% | 43.2% | 62.3% | 1970 | $661 | 8.8% | 92.4% | 9.9% |
| Cooper Landing | 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: Doraville, GA · Tomahawk, WI · Toano, VA · Timmonsville, SC · Tickfaw, LA · Tiburon, CA · Thousand Palms, CA · Thorofare, NJ · Duncansville, PA · Dudley, NC
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 Soldotna. 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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