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Ketchikan, AK

City in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.

Population

8,078

Land area

3.8sq mi

People per sq mi

2,109

ZIP codes

0

Ketchikan and its ZIP codes

Full map

Ketchikan at a glance

  • Ketchikan is about 1638 times as dense as Alaska as a whole.
  • It is the 13th most populous of 326 cities and towns in Alaska.
  • Households here earn a median of $85,275 a year, 8% less than the Alaska figure of $92,788.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $352,400 and median rent is $1,417 a month.

Local data for Ketchikan, AK

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Ketchikan, AK, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$85,275

Poverty rate

11.2%

Median home value

$352,400

Median rent

$1,417/mo

Homeownership

61.4%

Bachelor's or higher

24.5%

Median age

37.4

Average commute

10.6 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,096), Filipino Americans (950), Irish Americans (849).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Ketchikan Gateway Borough. PPP loans are for Ketchikan.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Sep 2026, -0.7 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$66,029

7,211 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$85,247

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$184M

FY 2026, $13,175 per person

Ketchikan Gateway Borough economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Ketchikan, AK, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone66.4%
  • Carpooled14.1%
  • Public transit0.6%
  • Walked10.1%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.2%
  • Worked from home5.5%

Average one-way commute: 10.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Ketchikan, AK, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: landslide

Storm events since 1996

29

Countywide, mostly high wind

Flood insurance policies

60

1.5% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

66° / 32°F

157.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone9 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Ketchikan, AK, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

38.9%

U.S. 33.3% +5.6 pts

Diabetes

11.0%

U.S. 12.1% -1.1 pts

Smoking

18.1%

U.S. 12.8% +5.3 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

10.2%

U.S. 11.1% -0.9 pts

Cities near Ketchikan

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
SaxmanCity4.6 mi1
LoringCensus-designated place17 mi0.6
MetlakatlaCensus-designated place17 mi2.3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Ketchikan, AK in?
Ketchikan is in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.
What is the population of Ketchikan, AK?
About 8,078 people live in Ketchikan, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Ketchikan?
Nearby places include Saxman (4.6 mi), Loring (17 mi), Metlakatla (17 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023

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