Best boroughs to raise a family in Alaska
Best boroughs to raise a family in Alaska
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a borough is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best boroughs to raise a family in Alaska using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks boroughs based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features boroughs that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best boroughs to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Dillingham Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C-), public schools (D), cost of living (C+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 4,780
- Median household income: $74,250
- Median home value: $163,800
- Top places to live: Dillingham (B-), Manokotak (C+), Togiak (C-)
#24. Yakutat Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 506
- Median household income: $80,625
- Median home value: $185,000
- Top places to live: Yakutat (B)
#23. Lake and Peninsula Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C-), cost of living (B-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 1,007
- Median household income: $64,000
- Median home value: $166,100
- Top places to live: Kokhanok (B-), Port Alsworth (C-), Newhalen (C-)
#22. Aleutians East Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D-)
- Population: 3,423
- Median household income: $72,692
- Median home value: $144,300
- Top places to live: Sand Point (B), Akutan (B), King Cove (B-)
#21. Hoonah-Angoon Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (D-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 2,313
- Median household income: $62,500
- Median home value: $278,300
- Top places to live: Gustavus (B-), Hoonah (B-), Tenakee Springs (C)
#20. Denali Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D)
- Population: 2,029
- Median household income: $88,935
- Median home value: $262,000
- Top places to live: Healy (B+), Anderson (B), Denali Park (C+)
#19. Skagway Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (A-), cost of living (C-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 1,308
- Median household income: $78,594
- Median home value: $430,000
- Top places to live: Skagway (B+)
#18. Bristol Bay Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (A-), cost of living (C), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 878
- Median household income: $100,625
- Median home value: $269,800
- Top places to live: King Salmon (A-), Naknek (B+)
#17. Haines Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A), cost of living (C), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 2,077
- Median household income: $72,607
- Median home value: $318,900
- Top places to live: Haines (A-), Mosquito Lake (B-), Mud Bay (unavailable)
#16. Petersburg Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A+), cost of living (C-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 3,394
- Median household income: $77,026
- Median home value: $301,300
- Top places to live: Petersburg (B+)
#15. Bethel Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (D-), public schools (D), cost of living (C-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D-)
- Population: 18,487
- Median household income: $70,616
- Median home value: $120,600
- Top places to live: Bethel (C), Akiak (C-), Toksook Bay (C-)
#14. Kusilvak Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (D-), public schools (D), cost of living (B+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D-)
- Population: 8,277
- Median household income: $48,233
- Median home value: $72,700
- Top places to live: Emmonak (C-), Russian Mission (C-), Hooper Bay (C-)
#13. Nome Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (D+), public schools (C-), cost of living (C), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D-)
- Population: 9,925
- Median household income: $76,643
- Median home value: $201,000
- Top places to live: Nome (C+), Unalakleet (B), Golovin (C)
#12. North Slope Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (D+), public schools (D-), cost of living (C+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D)
- Population: 10,891
- Median household income: $86,313
- Median home value: $219,600
- Top places to live: Wainwright (C-), Atqasuk (C-), Point Lay (C-)
#11. Northwest Arctic Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (D+), public schools (D-), cost of living (B-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 7,611
- Median household income: $81,298
- Median home value: $162,500
- Top places to live: Kotzebue (C+), Kiana (C), Selawik (C-)
#10. Aleutians West Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C-), public schools (B+), cost of living (D+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D-)
- Population: 5,178
- Median household income: $107,344
- Median home value: $419,100
- Top places to live: Unalaska (B), St. Paul (C-), Adak (C-)
#9. Southeast Fairbanks Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D)
- Population: 6,936
- Median household income: $74,223
- Median home value: $262,800
- Top places to live: Delta Junction (B-), Big Delta (C+), Tanacross (C+)
#8. Yukon-Koyukuk Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (D)
- Population: 5,271
- Median household income: $52,642
- Median home value: $87,800
- Top places to live: Galena (B), Minto (C+), Nulato (C+)
#7. Prince of Wales-Hyder Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 5,730
- Median household income: $59,079
- Median home value: $221,800
- Top places to live: Craig (B), Thorne Bay (B-), Kake (C+)
#6. Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 110,677
- Median household income: $90,625
- Median home value: $319,200
- Top places to live: Gateway (B), Palmer (B), Tanaina (B-)
#5. Ketchikan Gateway Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 13,870
- Median household income: $89,155
- Median home value: $379,000
- Top places to live: Ketchikan (B), Saxman (C)
#4. Fairbanks North Star Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 95,555
- Median household income: $84,722
- Median home value: $282,500
- Top places to live: College (A-), Ester (B-), Fairbanks (B-)
#3. Kodiak Island Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (D+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 12,878
- Median household income: $83,716
- Median home value: $382,700
- Top places to live: Kodiak (B), Womens Bay (B-), Port Lions (C-)
#2. Valdez-Cordova Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (unavailable)
- Population: 9,243
- Median household income: $79,867
- Median home value: $222,200
- Top places to live: Whittier (A-), Valdez (B+), Cordova (B+)
#1. Kenai Peninsula Borough
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 59,843
- Median household income: $77,722
- Median home value: $297,500
- Top places to live: Kalifornsky (B+), Kenai (B), Ridgeway (B)
