Housing decision brief
Wrangell City and Borough, AK Housing Market
Wrangell City and Borough 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.
18th lowest home value out of 30 Alaska counties with data | 10th lowest rent out of 30
Median home value
$289,700
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,047/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$819/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
4.5x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$228/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
Clean
No major county-specific caveat detected.
What Works
Lower rent
$1,047/mo is 16% below Alaska county median
Rent burden below pressure line
24.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $228/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
Low disaster-risk signal
Risk score is 100.0 out of 100, a stronger cross-check for long-term ownership costs.
What to Check
Lower income base
$64,545 median income is 17% below Alaska county median
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
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Wrangell City and Borough 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. | $289,700 | $274,050 | $281,900 | 6% pressure6% above Alaska county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,047 | $1,243 | $1,163 | 16% favorable16% below Alaska county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $819 | $772 | $1,672 | 6% pressure6% above Alaska county median |
Median household income | $64,545 | $78,158 | $74,755 | 17% pressure17% below Alaska county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.62% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 38% favorable38% below Alaska county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 24.00% | 23.00% | N/A | Near state median24.00% 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
+$22,665
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$29,445
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Wrangell City and Borough offers affordable rental housing at a median of $1,047/month , about 19.5% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
Renters in Wrangell City and Borough pay $1,047/month on average, compared to $819/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 22%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $41,880/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $35,100/year. With a median household income of $64,545, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 24.0% of renter households in Wrangell City and Borough are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Hoonah-Angoon Census Area where rent averages $986/month, Wrangell City and Borough is approximately 6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK | $278,300 | $986/mo | Same-state comparison near $278,300 home value and $986/mo rent. |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | $297,500 | $1,163/mo | Same-state comparison near $297,500 home value and $1,163/mo rent. |
| Haines Borough, AK | $318,900 | $914/mo | Same-state comparison near $318,900 home value and $914/mo rent. |
| Petersburg Borough, AK | $301,300 | $1,208/mo | Same-state comparison near $301,300 home value and $1,208/mo rent. |
| Copper River Census Area, AK | $246,700 | $973/mo | Same-state comparison near $246,700 home value and $973/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- No major county-specific data caveat was detected in the current housing fields.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Wrangell City and Borough
Is Wrangell City and Borough affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Wrangell City and Borough?
How much income do you need for housing in Wrangell City and Borough?
What should I double-check before moving to Wrangell City and Borough?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.