Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 34% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 1% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 43% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 66% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 29% of US counties
- top 1% for estimated total tax burden
- top 1% for air quality
- bottom 3% for annual snowfall
Kenai Peninsula Borough is a county in Alaska with about 59,000 residents. It grades B for getting around and F for weather. Standout strengths include estimated total tax burden, air quality, and sales tax. It rates lower on comfortable days and annual snowfall.
- The median home value in Kenai Peninsula Borough is $281k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Kenai Peninsula Borough is $76k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Kenai Peninsula Borough has a violent crime rate of 1240/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Kenai Peninsula Borough is 20 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Cool summers · Harsh winters · Dry · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
cool
v.cold
freezing
53%35%clearovercast
Precipitation 2.7 in0.9 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$76k84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$56kbetter than 10% of US counties
Home Value$281k85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 16% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$18kbetter than 26% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.66%better than 69% of US counties
Income Tax0.00%better than 91% of US counties
Sales Tax1.82%better than 96% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden3.03%better than 99% of US counties
Unemployment7.2%better than 14% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)16°F6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)57°F1st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation22.8 in17th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall86.0 inbetter than 3% of US counties
Sunny Days184 daysbetter than 8% of US counties
Summer Humidity49°Fbetter than 91% of US counties
Comfortable Days32 daysbetter than 4% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk93.0better than 7% of US counties
Air Quality10 AQIbetter than 99% of US counties
School Quality77.3better than 81% of US counties
Violent Crime1240/100kbetter than 24% of US counties
Property Crime1659/100kbetter than 21% of US counties
Community
Population59,23572nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.248th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3560th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.1089th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)78.0%45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.6%26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.4%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.7%81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)15.2%96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time20 minbetter than 83% of US counties
Walkability5.9/20better than 44% of US counties
Airport Distance97 mibetter than 51% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.5%better than 64% of US counties
Amenities Nearby1.35better than 41% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 13% of US counties
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kenai Peninsula Borough an affordable place to live?
- Kenai Peninsula Borough is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $56k, better than 10% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Kenai Peninsula Borough safe?
- Kenai Peninsula Borough is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1240/100k (better than 24%). Property crime is 1659/100k.
- What is the weather like in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
- Kenai Peninsula Borough averages 57°F in July and 16°F in January, with 22.8 in of annual precipitation and about 184 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
- Public-school quality in Kenai Peninsula Borough is above average, scoring better than 81% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
- The average one-way commute in Kenai Peninsula Borough is 20 min.