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Living in
North Lakes.
North Lakes is an unincorporated community in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in North Lakes
North Lakes is a community of 10,583 people in Alaska. The median household income is $101,679, median rent runs about $1,441 per month, and median home values are around $357,600. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.
North Lakes at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Foreign-Born
4.6%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Median household income
Demographics4.6% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in North Lakes: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Lakes, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (33.5%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.3%
of households
Married Couples
57.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.90
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for AK
Rent, home values, and income in North Lakes
Rent and home values here are close to the AK average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,808
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above AK average
Unemployment in North Lakes
Unemployment in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which includes North Lakes, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the AK average.
Unemployment rate
North Lakes: Matanuska-Susitna Borough rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (county-wide) · Annual averages
What North Lakes Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.3 min avg
How North Lakes residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Lakes, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 33 mi
Merrill Field (MRI)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 38 mi
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Medium hub2.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safety
Crime rates
Crime data not available
No police agency in the FBI's crime data covers North Lakes, so there's no local crime rate to show.
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Matanuska-Susitna County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which includes North Lakes, the most common type is high wind, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | High Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
525 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, county-wide
Air Quality9 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which includes North Lakes, is typically good — 322 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
9
Good Days
322
per year
Moderate Days
28
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, county-wide
Climate65°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Lakes has cool summers (avg high 65°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
46°/28°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
65°/47°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
42°/28°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.8"
Annual Snowfall
62.0"
Hot Days/Year
0
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
194
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
93
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 11°F | 0.73" |
| Feb | 29°F | 14°F | 0.87" |
| Mar | 34°F | 19°F | 0.64" |
| Apr | 47°F | 29°F | 0.38" |
| May | 58°F | 37°F | 1.12" |
| Jun | 64°F | 45°F | 1.75" |
| Jul | 67°F | 50°F | 2.59" |
| Aug | 64°F | 47°F | 3.44" |
| Sep | 55°F | 40°F | 2.86" |
| Oct | 42°F | 29°F | 1.84" |
| Nov | 30°F | 17°F | 1.15" |
| Dec | 25°F | 14°F | 1.46" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Lakes
Uninsured
10.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Lakes's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mat-su Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Palmer
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Lakes
North Lakes's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Alaska Public Lands, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Lakes
North Lakes has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Alaska Public Lands (34 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Alaska Public Lands
National Park Site
34 mi awayCities Near North Lakes
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Lakes?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Lakes FAQ
Is North Lakes, Alaska affordable?⌄
North Lakes's median rent is $1,441/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $101,679/year. Median home value is $357,600.
What is the job market like in North Lakes, Alaska?⌄
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which includes North Lakes, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Lakes, Alaska?⌄
The cost of living in North Lakes is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,441/month and median household income is $101,679/year. The median home value is $357,600. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Lakes, Alaska?⌄
The average commute in North Lakes is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from