Housing decision brief
Nome Census Area, AK Housing Market
Nome Census Area screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
9th lowest home value out of 30 Alaska counties with data | 20th lowest rent out of 30
Median home value
$201,000
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,328/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$748/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.6x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
19.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$580/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$201,000 median home value is 27% below Alaska county median
Rent burden below pressure line
19.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $580/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$76,643 median income is 2% below Alaska county median
Tax rate needs attention
1.55% effective property-tax rate is 55% above Alaska county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Health context
Health score is 8.2 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Nome Census Area is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $201,000 | $274,050 | $281,900 | 27% favorable27% below Alaska county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,328 | $1,243 | $1,163 | 7% pressure7% above Alaska county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $748 | $772 | $1,672 | Near state median3% below Alaska county median |
Median household income | $76,643 | $78,158 | $74,755 | Near state median2% below Alaska county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.55% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 55% pressure55% above Alaska county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 19.00% | 23.00% | N/A | 17% favorable19.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$23,523
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$44,586
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Nome Census Area is affordable. The median rent is $1,328/month against a median household income of $76,643, putting rent at 20.8% of income.
Rent vs own
Renters in Nome Census Area pay $1,328/month on average, compared to $748/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 44%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $53,120/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $32,057/year. With a median household income of $76,643, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 19.0% of renter households in Nome Census Area are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Yakutat City and Borough where rent averages $1,276/month, Nome Census Area is approximately 4% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakutat City and Borough, AK | $185,000 | $1,276/mo | Same-state comparison near $185,000 home value and $1,276/mo rent. |
| Northwest Arctic Borough, AK | $162,500 | $1,336/mo | Same-state comparison near $162,500 home value and $1,336/mo rent. |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK | $262,800 | $1,304/mo | Same-state comparison near $262,800 home value and $1,304/mo rent. |
| North Slope Borough, AK | $219,600 | $1,167/mo | Same-state comparison near $219,600 home value and $1,167/mo rent. |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | $163,800 | $1,085/mo | Same-state comparison near $163,800 home value and $1,085/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Nome Census Area
Is Nome Census Area affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Nome Census Area?
How much income do you need for housing in Nome Census Area?
What should I double-check before moving to Nome Census Area?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.