Population 1,509 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Willow
Household size in Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Willow is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 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 2.63 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 Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.4 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.4 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.1 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.4 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.1 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Willow skews older than the country: its median age is 43.4, against 40.1 nationally.
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 Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Willow: 6.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Willow
Renters in Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 14.1% of households in Willow rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly six in ten owners (57.4%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.5% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 62.3% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 60.5% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Willow: 60.5% 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 Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1998 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +5 | +6 |
Willow has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1998, versus 1980 nationally.
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 Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $774 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $953 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,046 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,158 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$384 | +$451 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Willow costs $1,158 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 31.5% of household income on rent, just over 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 Willow
Bachelor's degrees in Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Willow (26.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, 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 Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.3% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.2% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Willow have finished high school (92.4%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Alaska.
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 Willow
| Period | Willow | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Willow runs well above the national rate: 7.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 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).
Willow 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow | 2.40 | 43.4 | 6.4% | 14.1% | 60.5% | 1998 | $1,158 | 26.4% | 92.4% | 7.5% |
| Houston | 2.59 | 41.7 | 11.0% | 18.1% | 36.2% | 1996 | $1,246 | 17.5% | 93.2% | 9.6% |
| Susitna North | 2.01 | 47.9 | 6.1% | 26.6% | 55.7% | 1998 | $1,087 | 26.7% | 96.6% | 3.8% |
| Meadow Lakes | 2.78 | 37.1 | 13.6% | 23.0% | 18.7% | 1996 | $1,453 | 17.6% | 92.0% | 6.1% |
| Talkeetna | 2.36 | 45.1 | 6.4% | 21.6% | 63.8% | 1998 | $1,048 | 23.9% | 93.7% | 8.0% |
| Tanaina | 3.02 | 33.8 | 14.0% | 23.1% | 6.3% | 1996 | $1,451 | 22.7% | 92.9% | 5.8% |
| Trapper Creek | 2.10 | 61.4 | 2.8% | 7.1% | 84.6% | 1991 | $1,298 | 21.7% | 95.0% | 9.9% |
| Knik | 2.60 | 39.4 | 6.9% | 22.7% | 26.6% | 1995 | $1,074 | 8.5% | 85.5% | 3.1% |
| Wasilla | 2.70 | 36.5 | 10.8% | 38.3% | 8.0% | 1997 | $1,392 | 24.4% | 95.8% | 6.3% |
| Knik-Fairview | 3.04 | 33.1 | 10.7% | 15.3% | 9.6% | 2003 | $1,658 | 21.5% | 94.1% | 4.9% |
| Big Lake | 2.39 | 43.3 | 10.7% | 19.1% | 41.7% | 1993 | $1,166 | 13.2% | 89.0% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Warwick, GA · Dawson, PA · Deadwood, SD · Dexter, IA · Fowler, CO · Fulda, MN · Thomas, OK · Timberlane, IL · Trufant, MI · Unionville, MI
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 Willow. 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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