Housing decision brief
Skagway Municipality, AK Housing Market
Skagway Municipality screens as a higher purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable 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.
28th lowest home value out of 30 Alaska counties with data | 15th lowest rent out of 30
Median home value
$430,000
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,228/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$981/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
5.5x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
19.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$247/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 rent
$1,228/mo is 1% 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 $247/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
Low disaster-risk signal
Risk score is 99.6 out of 100, a stronger cross-check for long-term ownership costs.
What to Check
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
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Long-term owners who care about disaster-risk exposure
Poor Fit For
- 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 Skagway Municipality 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. | $430,000 | $274,050 | $281,900 | 57% pressure57% above Alaska county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,228 | $1,243 | $1,163 | Near state median1% below Alaska county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $981 | $772 | $1,672 | 27% pressure27% above Alaska county median |
Median household income | $78,594 | $78,158 | $74,755 | Near state median1% above Alaska county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.34% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 66% favorable66% below 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
+$29,474
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$36,551
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Skagway Municipality, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $1,228/month in gross rent, with 19.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
At $1,228/month rent versus $981/month in owner costs, owning is roughly $247/month cheaper , a 20% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $49,120/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $42,043/year. With a median household income of $78,594, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 19.0% of renter households in Skagway Municipality are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Alaska, Skagway Municipality is more affordable than North Slope Borough by roughly 5% ($1,228/mo vs $1,167/mo).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK | $379,000 | $1,388/mo | Same-state comparison near $379,000 home value and $1,388/mo rent. |
| Sitka City and Borough, AK | $442,100 | $1,350/mo | Same-state comparison near $442,100 home value and $1,350/mo rent. |
| Petersburg Borough, AK | $301,300 | $1,208/mo | Same-state comparison near $301,300 home value and $1,208/mo rent. |
| Crook County, OR | $423,300 | $1,224/mo | Out-of-state peer near $423,300 home value and $1,224/mo rent. |
| Juneau City and Borough, AK | $432,500 | $1,462/mo | Same-state comparison near $432,500 home value and $1,462/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Skagway Municipality
Is Skagway Municipality affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Skagway Municipality?
How much income do you need for housing in Skagway Municipality?
What should I double-check before moving to Skagway Municipality?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.