North Slope Borough
Alaska

What stands out

Three things set North Slope Borough apart from the other 3,142 counties: the average commute is among the shortest in America (8 minutes), homeownership is among the lowest in America (47%), and population growth is in the bottom 3% of American counties (-1.9% a year). Within Alaska it ranks 3rd of 9 counties for the average commute, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in North Slope Borough, Alaska. 10,924 people live here with you. The population shrank 1.9% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -313).

Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax, and it pays residents an annual Permanent Fund Dividend from oil revenue. Most goods arrive by barge or air, so groceries, fuel and building materials cost well above the national average, and winter heating is a major line item. Roughly half the population lives in the Anchorage area; much of the rest is reachable only by plane or ferry.

Money

The typical household here brings in $83,472 a year, higher than 90% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $128,567. Unemployment runs 5.0%, higher than 89% of American counties. 4% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 8 minutes each way.

Alaska has no state income tax, so none of that goes to the state.

Home

The median home costs $319K, pricier than 73% of American counties, about 2.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,506 a month. Property tax is 0.75% of home value, roughly $1,460 a year on that median home, lower than 60% of American counties. 47% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.0 per 1,000 residents, higher than 58% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 14 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 75.4 years, shorter than 55% of American counties. There are 5 active physicians in the county, about 4.6 per 10,000 people. 13.2% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

91% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

Under Alaska law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 9 out of 100, safer than 91% of American counties; the county has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 69 Mbps down, slower than 95% of American counties. There are 25 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.3 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 National Park Service site.