City Report · AK

North Pole

Pop. 2,370·5th most expensive in Alaska·North Pole rents are up 5.2% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,788/mo
Year-over-Year
+5.2%
Month-over-Month
-0.5%
vs US Median
-$144
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
North Pole · $1,788
More affordable than 54% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
49/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where North Pole's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent
$1,788/mo
Expected by trend
$1,775/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where North Pole's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,160
1 BR
$1,290
2 BR
$1,690
3 BR
$2,370
4 BR+
$2,840
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,690/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,788 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in North Pole is 1.3% below its high of $1,812 in June 2026, at $1,788 as of September 2026.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($92,273) is $2,307 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,690); a 3-bedroom is $2,370.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for North Pole. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$21,456/yr
At $1,788/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (5.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+5.2% YoY, -0.5% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

North Pole, AK is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 29.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
2,370
Median income
$92,273
Median age
28.2
Renters
44.1%
Age distribution
37.4%
29.6%
21.6%
Under 1837.4%
18–3429.6%
35–5421.6%
55–643.6%
65+7.8%
Gender
55.9%
44.1%
Male55.9%
Female44.1%
Race & ethnicity
57.8%
12.5%
20.8%
White57.8%
Black4.9%
Hispanic12.5%
Asian4%
Other20.8%
Education (25+)
27.6%
38.5%
29.4%
No HS diploma4.5%
HS diploma27.6%
Some college38.5%
Bachelor's+29.4%
Housing tenure
55.9%
44.1%
Owner55.9%
Renter44.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How North Pole, AK has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,521 → $1,788
up 17.6%
Income
$83,524 → $92,273
up 10.5%
Population
2,825 → 2,370
down 16.1%
Renter share
49.8% → 44.1%
-5.7 pts
Bachelor's+
26.8% → 29.4%
+2.6 pts

Rent in North Pole, AK has increased 17.6% since 2023, going from about $1,521 per month to roughly $1,788 today. Household income in the area moved from $83,524 to $92,273 across the same window, up 10.5% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 2,825 to 2,370 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.1% change. About 44.1% of households rent today, against 49.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 26.8% to 29.4%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in North Pole, AK look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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View North Pole rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in North Pole on your salary?

At $1,788/mo, how North Pole rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

North Pole rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in North Pole. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in North Pole

About renting in North Pole, AK

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in North Pole is $1,788/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,160/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,690/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,290/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,370/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($92,273/yr), North Pole ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in North Pole?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,788/mo in North Pole. The local median household income is $92,273/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in North Pole?

Rent in North Pole has risen 5.2% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.3% below its high of $1,812 in June 2026.

How does North Pole rent compare to other cities in Alaska?

North Pole is one of the more affordable among Alaska cities for rent, ranking #5 of 6 tracked cities at $1,788/mo.
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,788/mo, rent takes ~23% of North Pole's median household income ($92,273/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

North Pole 23%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near North Pole, AK

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