Houston, Alaska
Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Houston, compared with Alaska and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.
Houston city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 0233800 · Alaska directory
- Population · July 1, 2025
- 2,267 PEP Vintage 2025
- Change · 2024 to 2025
- +1.9% +43 residents
- Household income
- $73,015 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$18,540
- Home value
- $295,000 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$32,562
- Monthly gross rent
- $887 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$158
- Median age
- 40.2 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±5.7
Houston is an incorporated city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, part of the Anchorage, AK metropolitan area. With 2,267 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 21st in Alaska and 7,241st nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 43 (1.9%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 14.9%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $887 a month, 37.5% below the Alaska median. Median household income is $73,015, 21.3% below the Alaska median.
Detailed demographics → Housing and cost-of-living context →
What stands out in Houston?
Compared with other Alaska places, Houston is most distinctive for fewer car-free households, faster population growth and fewer college graduates. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.
- Households without a vehicle: 5.7%, 3.3 percentage points below the Alaska rate (9.0%); lower than 99% of 90 Alaska places with reliable estimates. Only 0 of 90 Alaska places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Population change since April 2020: +14.9%; higher than 98% of 125 Alaska places with reliable estimates. It ranks 2nd of 125 in Alaska.
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.3%, 19.4 percentage points below the Alaska rate (31.7%); lower than 98% of 33 Alaska places with reliable estimates. Only 0 of 33 Alaska places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Commutes of 45 minutes or longer: 36.6%, 28.2 percentage points above the Alaska rate (8.4%); higher than 94% of 9 Alaska places with reliable estimates. It ranks 1st of 9 in Alaska.
- Median gross rent: $887, 37.5% below the Alaska median ($1,419); lower than 75% of 76 Alaska places with reliable estimates.
How Houston compares with Alaska and the U.S.
| Measure | Houston | Alaska | U.S. | Position in Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 | +14.9% | — | — | higher than 98% of 125 Alaska places |
| Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 | 95 | — | — | higher than 64% of 149 Alaska places |
| Median household income B19013 | $73,015 ±$18,540 | $92,788 | $80,734 | higher than 63% of 106 Alaska places |
| Median home value B25077 | $295,000 ±$32,562 | $352,900 | $332,700 | higher than 75% of 90 Alaska places |
| Median real estate taxes paid B25103 | $2,316 ±$251 | $3,901 | $3,119 | lower than 52% of 35 Alaska places |
| Median gross rent B25064 | $887 ±$158 | $1,419 | $1,413 | lower than 75% of 76 Alaska places |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 | 51.0% ±13.9 pp | 44.6% | 51.1% | higher than 79% of 31 Alaska places |
| Homeownership rate B25003 | 70.6% ±2.6 pp | 66.8% | 65.2% | higher than 56% of 121 Alaska places |
| Median age B01002 | 40.2 years ±5.7 | 35.8 years | 38.9 years | higher than 73% of 127 Alaska places |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 | 12.3% ±3.3 pp | 31.7% | 35.7% | lower than 98% of 33 Alaska places |
| Poverty rate B17001 | 18.8% ±6.1 pp | 10.1% | 12.5% | lower than 61% of 76 Alaska places |
| People without health insurance B27010 | 11.3% ±2.7 pp | 11.0% | 8.4% | lower than 68% of 84 Alaska places |
| Households with a broadband subscription B28002 | 88.6% ±2.3 pp | 91.9% | 91.0% | higher than 67% of 124 Alaska places |
| Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 | 12.0% ±3.8 pp | 5.9% | 5.2% | lower than 62% of 54 Alaska places |
| Foreign-born residents B05002 | 1.1% ±0.8 pp · low precision | 7.7% | 14.1% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Workers who work from home B08301 | 11.7% ±5.0 pp | 9.7% | 15.1% | higher than 80% of 18 Alaska places |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 | 36.6% ±7.2 pp | 8.4% | 16.5% | higher than 94% of 9 Alaska places |
| Households without a vehicle B08201 | 5.7% ±2.5 pp | 9.0% | 8.4% | lower than 99% of 90 Alaska places |
Positions compare Houston with Alaska places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 1 measure is shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.
How many people live in Houston?
The latest official estimate is 2,267 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 7,241st by population nationally and 21st in Alaska among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 43 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.
| Reference date | Population | Change from previous estimate |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 1,980 | Separate from April 2020 base |
| July 1, 2021 | 2,062 | +82 |
| July 1, 2022 | 2,110 | +48 |
| July 1, 2023 | 2,151 | +41 |
| July 1, 2024 | 2,224 | +73 |
| July 1, 2025 | 2,267 | +43 |
From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +294 residents (14.9%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.
Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release
Where are the boundaries?
- Entity and stable identifier
- Houston city, Alaska · Incorporated city · 0233800
- Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
- Anchorage, AK — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
- Land area
- 23.9 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Water area
- 1.3 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Approximate population density
- 95 residents per square mile of land
- Internal point
- 61.615303°, -149.80061° · Census geographic reference point
Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .
Income and poverty
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income Households · USD/year | $73,015 ±$18,540 | $92,788 ±$1,232 | $80,734 ±$166 |
| Per-capita income Total population · USD/year | $39,790 ±$7,223 | $46,573 ±$569 | $44,673 ±$122 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty level | 343 ±118 | 18.8% ±6.1 pp |
Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 18.8% (±6.1 percentage points) under the official Census definition.
Home values, rent and tenure
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD | $295,000 ±$32,562 | $352,900 ±$3,735 | $332,700 ±$236 |
| Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month | $887 ±$158 | $1,419 ±$23 | $1,413 ±$2 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 519 ±59 | 70.6% ±2.6 pp |
| Renter occupied | 216 ±63 | 29.4% ±8.0 pp |
Owner-occupied units make up 70.6% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 4.0 times the median household income.
See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .
Monthly rent by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | Monthly gross rent | 90% margin of error | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | $863 | ±$28 | Estimate with MOE |
| 1 bedroom | $496 | ±$102 | Estimate with MOE |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,138 | ±$178 | Estimate with MOE |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,763 | ±$173 | Estimate with MOE |
| 4 bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| 5 or more bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .
Employment among residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force | 955 ±159 | 60.4% ±7.2 pp |
| Not in the labor force | 626 ±100 | 39.6% ±4.3 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian employed | 835 ±146 | 88.0% ±4.4 pp |
| Civilian unemployed | 114 ±41 | 12.0% ±3.8 pp |
These estimates describe residents of Houston wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Houston. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.
Which industries employ residents?
Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 19.6% (164 people; ±6.3 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining | 52 ±27 · low precision | 6.2% ±3.1 pp |
| Construction | 121 ±59 | 14.5% ±6.6 pp |
| Manufacturing | 58 ±34 · low precision | 6.9% ±3.8 pp · low precision |
| Wholesale trade | 32 ±21 · low precision | 3.8% ±2.5 pp · low precision |
| Retail trade | 127 ±42 | 15.2% ±4.3 pp |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 83 ±46 · low precision | 9.9% ±5.3 pp · low precision |
| Information | 8 ±14 · low precision | 1.0% ±1.7 pp · low precision |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 16 ±14 · low precision | 1.9% ±1.7 pp · low precision |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services | 63 ±26 | 7.5% ±2.8 pp |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 164 ±60 | 19.6% ±6.3 pp |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services | 46 ±26 · low precision | 5.5% ±3.0 pp · low precision |
| Other services, except public administration | 38 ±23 · low precision | 4.6% ±2.7 pp · low precision |
| Public administration | 27 ±22 · low precision | 3.2% ±2.6 pp · low precision |
Occupations among employed residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | 190 ±54 | 22.8% ±5.1 pp |
| Service occupations | 167 ±56 | 20.0% ±5.7 pp |
| Sales and office | 141 ±59 | 16.9% ±6.5 pp |
| Natural resources, construction and maintenance | 193 ±79 | 23.1% ±8.6 pp |
| Production, transportation and material moving | 144 ±49 | 17.2% ±5.1 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management occupations | 56 ±30 · low precision | 6.7% ±3.5 pp · low precision |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | 7 ±13 · low precision | 0.8% ±1.5 pp · low precision |
| Educational instruction and library occupations | 28 ±16 · low precision | 3.4% ±1.8 pp · low precision |
| Health practitioners and technical occupations | 29 ±21 · low precision | 3.5% ±2.4 pp · low precision |
| Sales and related occupations | 69 ±43 · low precision | 8.3% ±4.9 pp · low precision |
| Transportation occupations | 59 ±35 · low precision | 7.1% ±3.9 pp · low precision |
The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.
How residents get to work
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 550 ±125 | 65.6% ±9.6 pp |
| Carpooled | 85 ±46 · low precision | 10.1% ±5.2 pp · low precision |
| Public transportation | 0 ±10 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 0 ±10 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision |
| Motorcycle | 0 ±10 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision |
| Bicycle | 0 ±10 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision |
| Walked | 24 ±20 · low precision | 2.9% ±2.3 pp · low precision |
| Other means | 81 ±40 | 9.7% ±4.5 pp |
| Worked from home | 98 ±45 | 11.7% ±5.0 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 145 ±50 | 19.6% ±5.7 pp |
| 15–29 minutes | 215 ±65 | 29.1% ±6.9 pp |
| 30–44 minutes | 109 ±43 | 14.7% ±5.1 pp |
| 45–59 minutes | 75 ±38 · low precision | 10.1% ±4.8 pp |
| 60 minutes or longer | 196 ±63 | 26.5% ±6.9 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available | 42 ±19 | 5.7% ±2.5 pp |
Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.
Households and residents
Median age is 40.2 years (±5.7). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Alaska and the U.S.
How many jobs are located in Houston?
Alaska has not supplied LODES workplace data since 2016, so a current local jobs count is unavailable.
Nearby station climate normals
No station in the retained NOAA release meets our complete standard-normal criteria within 25 km of this place’s Census internal point. We leave local climate values unavailable. Use NOAA’s station lookup to inspect other locations and their coverage.
Check a specific address before moving
City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
- NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
- FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
- Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.
Sources and data notes
Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.
Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.