What does it really mean to be poor? For this article specifically, we documented the ideology of ‘poor’ based on median household incomes, unemployment rates and poverty levels for towns in Alaska with a population of at least 2,000 year-round residents. This information was collected from the United States Census Bureau’s 2010-2014 American Community Survey.
Let us remind you that although these towns made the list, doesn’t mean that they are really as ‘poor’ as it might seem. You see for some, and especially in Alaska – a big bank account and monetary possessions aren’t the ticket to success. Being a part of a community that is rich in culture, surrounding oneself with love, being able to live off the land and living a simple lifestyle while being located in the most beautiful place in the world – now THAT is how you become rich. You see, sometimes hindsight paints a much clearer picture than perception ever will.
- Houston
Flickr - Jimmy Emerson, DVM With a population just over 2,000 year round residents, the tiny community of Houston is considered somewhat of a ‘drive by’ town. Although the town is tiny, it boasts an alarming unemployment rate of nearly 19% and a poverty level at a staggering 15%.
- Ketchikan
Flickr - Jonathan With a population around 8,200 residents, the sweet little coastal town of Ketchikan still boasts an unemployment rate over 10% and an overall poverty level around 15%.
- Fairbanks
Flickr - ron james Alaska’s ‘Golden Heart City’ is a very special place, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have it’s downsides. The town with a population just over 32,100 has an unemployment rate of almost 12% and a poverty level of about 12%.
- Anchor Point
Flickr - Brian Johnson & Dane Kantner This adorable fishing town on the Kenai Peninsula has some of the most incredible views and excellent fishing that you will ever experience in your lifetime. But while all that is great, Anchor Point still has an unemployment level of almost 10% and a poverty level of 12.3%. For a town with only about 2,200 residents, these numbers are shocking!
- Meadow Lakes
Flickr - Cecil Sanders This little area in the Mat-Su Borough is home to about 7,200 year-round residents. The unemployment rate is just over 13% and the poverty rate is almost 11%.
- Kenai
Flickr - gilbert This beautiful fishing town on the Kenai Peninsula is home to some of the most awesome fishing and views overlooking Cook Inlet. But in a town of almost 7,500 people, the unemployment rate is still roughly 10.5% and the poverty level is nearly 12%.
- Barrow
Flickr - Andrei Taranchenko As the largest city in the North Slope Borough with a population around 4,300, Barrow boasts an unemployment rate of almost 17% and a poverty level of roughly 12%.
- Kotzebue
Flickr - Chris Lott This small town in the Northwest Arctic Borough has a population of roughly 3,300 residents and boasts an unemployment level of almost 16% and a poverty rate just under 14%.
- Ester
Flickr - J. Stephen Conn This quaint little town just west of Fairbanks is home to roughly 2,600 year-round residents. Although the community is strong and filled with pride, it still has an unemployment level of 6.6% and a poverty rate just of 16%.
- Dillingham
Flickr - J. Stephen Conn Located on Nushagak Bay at the mouth of the Nushagak River, Dillingham is home to a population around roughly 2,250 people. With such a small community, you might be surprised to learn that the unemployment level is over 10% and the poverty rate is almost 13%.
- Wasilla
Flickr - neverbutterfly Although Wasilla is one of the fastest growing cities in America, it’s population of just under 10,000 residents is still home to a staggering unemployment rate that sits just over 10.5% and a poverty level over 10%.
- Wrangell
Flickr - J Brew This beautiful town located in Southeast Alaska has a population around 2,400 residents. Although the area offers incredible wildlife viewing, fishing and tourism opportunities, it still has an unemployment rate around 6% and a poverty level just over 8%.
- Seward
Flickr - ajburcar It’s hard not to fall in love with this stunningly beautiful coastal town located on The Kenai, Alaska’s Playground. With the Kenai Fjords National Park just steps away, the beautiful and tourism opportunities are seemingly unlimited. But although it’s a great place to visit, the employment rate is still over 8% and the poverty level is at an alarming 6.3%.
For more neat places in the last frontier, be sure to check out these 17 tiny towns in Alaska where everyone knows your name.You might also love these 10 tiny towns in Alaska that have the most incredible restaurants.
Flickr - Jimmy Emerson, DVM
With a population just over 2,000 year round residents, the tiny community of Houston is considered somewhat of a ‘drive by’ town. Although the town is tiny, it boasts an alarming unemployment rate of nearly 19% and a poverty level at a staggering 15%.
Flickr - Jonathan
With a population around 8,200 residents, the sweet little coastal town of Ketchikan still boasts an unemployment rate over 10% and an overall poverty level around 15%.
Flickr - ron james
Alaska’s ‘Golden Heart City’ is a very special place, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have it’s downsides. The town with a population just over 32,100 has an unemployment rate of almost 12% and a poverty level of about 12%.
Flickr - Brian Johnson & Dane Kantner
This adorable fishing town on the Kenai Peninsula has some of the most incredible views and excellent fishing that you will ever experience in your lifetime. But while all that is great, Anchor Point still has an unemployment level of almost 10% and a poverty level of 12.3%. For a town with only about 2,200 residents, these numbers are shocking!
Flickr - Cecil Sanders
This little area in the Mat-Su Borough is home to about 7,200 year-round residents. The unemployment rate is just over 13% and the poverty rate is almost 11%.
Flickr - gilbert
This beautiful fishing town on the Kenai Peninsula is home to some of the most awesome fishing and views overlooking Cook Inlet. But in a town of almost 7,500 people, the unemployment rate is still roughly 10.5% and the poverty level is nearly 12%.
Flickr - Andrei Taranchenko
As the largest city in the North Slope Borough with a population around 4,300, Barrow boasts an unemployment rate of almost 17% and a poverty level of roughly 12%.
Flickr - Chris Lott
This small town in the Northwest Arctic Borough has a population of roughly 3,300 residents and boasts an unemployment level of almost 16% and a poverty rate just under 14%.
Flickr - J. Stephen Conn
This quaint little town just west of Fairbanks is home to roughly 2,600 year-round residents. Although the community is strong and filled with pride, it still has an unemployment level of 6.6% and a poverty rate just of 16%.
Located on Nushagak Bay at the mouth of the Nushagak River, Dillingham is home to a population around roughly 2,250 people. With such a small community, you might be surprised to learn that the unemployment level is over 10% and the poverty rate is almost 13%.
Flickr - neverbutterfly
Although Wasilla is one of the fastest growing cities in America, it’s population of just under 10,000 residents is still home to a staggering unemployment rate that sits just over 10.5% and a poverty level over 10%.
Flickr - J Brew
This beautiful town located in Southeast Alaska has a population around 2,400 residents. Although the area offers incredible wildlife viewing, fishing and tourism opportunities, it still has an unemployment rate around 6% and a poverty level just over 8%.
Flickr - ajburcar
It’s hard not to fall in love with this stunningly beautiful coastal town located on The Kenai, Alaska’s Playground. With the Kenai Fjords National Park just steps away, the beautiful and tourism opportunities are seemingly unlimited. But although it’s a great place to visit, the employment rate is still over 8% and the poverty level is at an alarming 6.3%.
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