Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Utqiagvik, Alaska
A $282,000 home here costs
$2,283per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $98,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,537. The real number is $745 higher every month, 48% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare North Slope Borough with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Utqiagvik from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,850 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The North Slope Borough figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Utqiagvik against North Slope Borough and Alaska
| Measure | Utqiagvik | North Slope Borough |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $282,400 | $219,600 |
| Median property tax | $2,366 | $2,082 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.838% | 0.948% |
| Median gross rent | $1,190 | $1,167 |
| Population | 4,850 | 10,891 |
The weather behind that power bill
Utqiagvik sits in North Slope Borough, which averages a high of 57.9°F in its hottest month and a low of -23.0°F in its coldest, with 5.68" of precipitation a year and 52% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1 cooling and 18,759 heating degree days, which is what sets the $170 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for North Slope Borough , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in North Slope Borough
No other places of this size are published in North Slope Borough.
Full North Slope Borough cost breakdown · Every county in Alaska
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Utqiagvik averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Utqiagvik every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Utqiagvik I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Utqiagvik?
A $282,000 home in Utqiagvik, Alaska costs approximately $2,283 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,537 principal and interest, $197 property tax, $75 homeowners insurance, $238 utilities and $235 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Utqiagvik?
Utqiagvik has an effective property tax rate of 0.838%, based on a median home value of $282,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,366. That is lower than the North Slope Borough average of 0.948%.
What is the average home price in Utqiagvik?
The median owner-occupied home value in Utqiagvik, Alaska is $282,400, against $219,600 across North Slope Borough.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Utqiagvik?
Median gross rent in Utqiagvik is $1,190 a month, against $2,283 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Utqiagvik?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Utqiagvik, Alaska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $98,000 a year. That covers the full $2,283 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Utqiagvik, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Alaska.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.