AKAlaska rankings

Top vacation-home towns in Alaska

Ranked by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. 41 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

1 Big Lake 40.6% Home value $298,700 2 Sterling 20.9% Home value $353,400 3 Kalifornsky 13% Home value $336,800

#TownSeasonal homesHome valuePopulation

1 Big Lake3,585 people 40.6% $298,700 3,585

2 Sterling6,323 people 20.9% $353,400 6,323

3 Kalifornsky8,663 people 13% $336,800 8,663

Seward2,794 people 12.7% $338,100 2,794

5 Meadow Lakes8,689 people 10% $323,100 8,689

6 Nome3,653 people 9.2% $356,900 3,653

7 Sitka city and8,368 people 8.5% $450,300 8,368

8 Steele Creek5,928 people 8.5% $348,400 5,928

9 Ester2,752 people 7.3% $255,400 2,752

10 Soldotna4,485 people 6.2% $306,000 4,485

11 Kotzebue2,984 people 6% $288,400 2,984

Homer5,877 people 5.7% $388,400 5,877

13 Bethel6,312 people 5.1% $360,200 6,312

Nikiski4,773 people 5% $312,600 4,773

15 Chena Ridge5,881 people 4.5% $395,500 5,881

16 Goldstream3,294 people 4.3% $289,600 3,294

17 Kodiak5,447 people 4.1% $347,100 5,447

18 Unalaska4,556 people 3.6% $462,400 4,556

19 Valdez3,847 people 3.2% $313,000 3,847

Petersburg3,227 people 3.1% $308,400 3,227

Knik-Fairview19,972 people 2.9% $340,200 19,972

22 Fishhook5,819 people 2.9% $416,300 5,819

23 Juneau city and31,794 people 2.8% $449,300 31,794

24 Ketchikan8,078 people 2% $352,400 8,078

25 South Lakes6,180 people 2% $377,500 6,180

Butte4,085 people 2% $374,600 4,085

27 Kenai7,641 people 1.9% $283,900 7,641

28 Tanaina9,646 people 1.7% $328,500 9,646

29 North Lakes10,223 people 1.6% $357,600 10,223

30 Gateway6,845 people 1.6% $446,200 6,845

31 Anchorage288,976 people 1.5% $395,900 288,976

College11,924 people 1.5% $297,500 11,924

33 Badger18,677 people 1.3% $310,600 18,677

34 Wasilla9,720 people 0.7% $358,400 9,720

35 Farm Loop2,894 people 0.7% $431,300 2,894

Palmer6,268 people 0.6% $294,900 6,268

37 Utqiaġvik4,778 people 0.6% $311,400 4,778

38 Fairbanks32,083 people 0.5% $268,400 32,083

39 Farmers Loop4,954 people 0% $279,800 4,954

40 Mill Bay3,654 people 0% $463,200 3,654

41 Eielson AFB3,155 people 0% — 3,155

How this ranking works

We rank every town by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. The town with the highest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for Alaska as a whole is 8.6%.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY All of the U.S.