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Northwest Arctic Borough, AK: population growth, jobs and income

Northwest Arctic Borough lost 55 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.8%).

Northwest Arctic Borough had an estimated 7,095 residents in 2025, down 9.0% (702 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Alaska as a whole (+0.6%), and the 27th fastest growth of 28 counties in Alaska.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Northwest Arctic Borough report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Northwest Arctic Borough, ranked against Alaska and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$1,350/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes33.5%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months12025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

New homes permitted

2

2025

0.3 per 1,000 residents

Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 117 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.

Private employers had 1,766 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 10.0% in 2025, 2.5 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 2 new homes in 2025, or 0.3 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $84,018 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +31.8% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 3,067th.

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Northwest Arctic Borough population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
20257,095−55
20247,150−149
20237,299−86
20227,385−197
20217,582−215
20207,797–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Northwest Arctic Borough

Northwest Arctic Borough lost 702 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−1,034).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths+63+338
International migrationfrom and to other countries−1−5
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties−117−1,034
Census adjustmentbalancing residual+0−1
Total change−55−702

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn AlaskaAmong U.S. counties
Population growth27th of 283,067th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents26th of 283,012th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth20th of 262,469th of 3,092
Median household income12th of 28449th of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate25th of 283,094th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents19th of 232,592nd of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

Get the county report — $99

The County Growth and Demographics Report for Northwest Arctic Borough, AK as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the North Slope Borough and Nome Census Area reports too, $149 for all 3.

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Neighbouring counties

Northwest Arctic Borough lost population faster than all 3 of its neighbouring counties (−9.0%, 2020–25).

Only North Slope Borough had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 3 neighbouring counties; Northwest Arctic Borough's was $84,018.

Northwest Arctic Borough, AK and its 3 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Northwest Arctic Borough, AK This county7,095−9.0%−16.50.3$84,018
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK5,028−5.1%−11.70.0$55,741
Nome Census Area, AK9,830−1.9%−7.50.3$78,681
North Slope Borough, AK10,582−3.8%−10.60.5$95,694

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 30 Alaska counties · Every state

Questions

Is Northwest Arctic Borough growing?

No. Its population fell 9.0% between 2020 and 2025, about 702 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Alaska as a whole changed +0.6% over the same years. That ranks 27th of 28 counties in Alaska for population growth.

How many people moved to Northwest Arctic Borough?

On net, none in 2025: about 117 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in Northwest Arctic Borough?

It averaged 10.0% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Northwest Arctic Borough?

About 7,095 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Northwest Arctic Borough?

Private employers there had 1,766 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Alaska

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Alaska county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

Northwest Arctic Borough data alerts

Email me when Northwest Arctic Borough gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Northwest Arctic Borough is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.