Alaska Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Alaska was $1,201 in 2017 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $1,183 in 2017. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2018 Alaska median and average rent data will be released in September of 2019.

Data is also available below for Alaska rental vacancy rates, Alaska rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Alaska.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Nominal Gross Rent in Alaska 2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US Median Gross Rent $1,012 +3.16% +8.35% Alaska Median Gross Rent $1,201 -0.58% +1.52% Alaska Nominal Gross Rent Trends Median gross rent for Alaska peaked in nominal terms in 2016 at $1,208 and is now $7 (0.58%) lower. At $1,183, nominal average gross rent in Alaska was at its highest level in 2017 since the series began in 2005. Nominal Gross Rent in Alaska: Median , Average , US Median Nominal Gross Rent History for Alaska Date US Median Alaska Median Alaska Average 2017 $1,012 $1,201 $1,183 2016 $981 $1,208 $1,170 2015 $959 $1,163 $1,140 2014 $934 $1,183 $1,164 2013 $905 $1,117 $1,109 2012 $884 $1,120 $1,111 2011 $871 $1,049 $1,027 2010 $855 $981 $954 2009 $842 $1,007 $981 2008 $824 $949 $912 2007 $789 $918 $871 2006 $763 $883 $807

Real Gross Rent in Alaska (2017 dollars)2 2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US Median Gross Rent $1,012 +1.61% +5.86% Alaska Median Gross Rent $1,201 -2.12% -0.83% Alaska Real Gross Rent Trends Median gross rent for Alaska peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,227 and is now $26 (2.12%) lower. Average gross rent for Alaska peaked in real terms in 2014 at $1,192 and is now $9 (0.76%) lower. Real Gross Rent in Alaska: Median , Average , US Median Real Gross Rent History for Alaska Date US Median Alaska Median Alaska Average 2017 $1,012 $1,201 $1,183 2016 $996 $1,227 $1,188 2015 $987 $1,197 $1,173 2014 $956 $1,211 $1,192 2013 $924 $1,141 $1,133 2012 $912 $1,156 $1,146 2011 $912 $1,099 $1,076 2010 $927 $1,063 $1,034 2009 $931 $1,113 $1,084 2008 $947 $1,090 $1,048 2007 $899 $1,046 $992 2006 $909 $1,052 $961

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2017 the rental vacancy rate for Alaska was 8.12% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Alaska

2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US 6.18% +0.29% -0.14% Alaska 8.12% +2.31% +2.23%

Trends in Alaska Rental Vacancy Rate

At 8.12%, Alaska residential rental vacancy rate in 2017 is at the highest point since 2005, the beginning of our reporting for this series.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Alaska , US

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Alaska

Date US Alaska 2017 6.18% 8.12% 2016 5.89% 5.81% 2015 5.85% 5.74% 2014 6.32% 5.89% 2013 6.49% 7.74% 2012 6.77% 5.62% 2011 7.40% 5.94% 2010 8.17% 3.73% 2009 8.43% 6.82% 2008 7.86% 4.80% 2007 7.87% 5.99% 2006 7.70% 7.46%

Using median household income data for Alaska, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Alaska, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.69% in 2017 according to the ACS.

Alaska Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US 20.13% -0.30% -0.76% Alaska 19.69% +0.73% -0.14%

Trends in Alaska Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Alaska household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.85%. Since then it has fallen by 0.16% to 19.69%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Alaska , US

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Alaska

Date US Alaska 2017 20.13% 19.69% 2016 20.43% 18.96% 2015 20.63% 19.03% 2014 20.89% 19.83% 2013 20.78% 18.56% 2012 20.65% 19.85% 2011 20.70% 18.56% 2010 20.50% 18.23% 2009 20.12% 18.05% 2008 19.00% 16.63% 2007 18.66% 17.12% 2006 18.90% 17.84%

You can calculate the renter fraction in Alaska in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Alaska as a fraction of total Alaska households. In 2017 36.45% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Alaska Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US 36.13% -0.75% -0.77% Alaska 36.45% +0.93% -1.06%

Trends in the Alaska Renter Fraction

The Alaska household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 37.51% and is now 1.06% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Alaska , US

History of Alaska Renter Fraction