Sitka City and Borough
Alaska

What stands out

What stands out about Sitka City and Borough: home internet speed is among the fastest in America (356 Mbps), the average commute is among the shortest in America (11 minutes), and the median household income is in the top 5% of American counties ($95,261). Within Alaska it ranks 2nd of 30 counties for home internet speed.

Where you are

You live in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska. 8,462 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 0.8% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -98).

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 $95,261 a year, higher than 95% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $61,555. Unemployment runs 2.8%, lower than 74% of American counties. 7% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 11 minutes each way.

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

Home

The median home costs $485K, pricier than 93% of American counties, about 3.9 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,345 a month. Property tax is 0.51% of home value, roughly $2,166 a year on that median home, lower than 87% of American counties. 64% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, lower than 72% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 15 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 80.1 years, longer than 92% of American counties. There are 32 active physicians in the county, about 37.8 per 10,000 people. 11.9% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

95% 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 18 out of 100, safer than 81% of American counties; the county has had 2 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 356 Mbps down, faster than almost every county in America. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.3 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery, 1 National Park Service site.