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Borough in Alaska

Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska

Kenai Peninsula Borough is a borough in Alaska with 60,413 residents, No. 4 of 30 by population. In Kenai Peninsula Borough, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $323,200. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,390 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $26.73 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $323,200

    −8% vs. Alaska −3% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Kenai Peninsula
    • Alaska
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,390 a month

    −8% vs. Alaska −21% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Kenai Peninsula
    • Alaska
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Kenai Peninsula
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.63% of value per year

    −43% vs. Alaska −33% vs. U.S.

    $2,049 a year for the typical owner

    • Kenai Peninsula
    • Alaska
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$348,874
6.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,789 a month
3.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Kenai Peninsula Borough today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $2,597 a month: 39% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $111,305 a year; the typical income here is $80,538. 77% of households own their home, more than in Alaska (67%). The typical property tax is $2,049 a year (about 0.63% of home value), lower than in Alaska.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Kenai Peninsula Borough apart

  1. Nearby, in Lake and Peninsula Borough, the typical home value is $237,500: 27% less than in Kenai Peninsula Borough ($323,200).

  2. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Kenai Peninsula Borough rose 53% on FHFA's index, faster than in Alaska (39%).

  3. Among the neighboring boroughs, Lake and Peninsula Borough has the lowest typical rent ($936), 21% below the $1,184 in Kenai Peninsula Borough.

  4. Kenai Peninsula Borough has the 3rd highest homeownership rate of the 30 boroughs in Alaska (77%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Kenai Peninsula Borough

What homes there are in Kenai Peninsula Borough, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 83% of homes here, against 63% in Alaska.

Year built

The typical home in Kenai Peninsula Borough was built in 1990, 4 years after the typical one in Alaska.

There are fewer big homes in Kenai Peninsula Borough than in Alaska: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 56%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 84% of owner-occupied homes in Kenai Peninsula Borough are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this borough ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for this borough is $1,390: about 63% of rents in Kenai Peninsula Borough are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,904 a month

Alaska: $2,229 a month

Without a mortgage

$531 a month

Alaska: $690 a month

Owners with a mortgage

52%

Alaska: 60%

In Kenai Peninsula Borough, 52% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,904 a month, against $2,229 in Alaska. Without one it drops to $531.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Kenai Peninsula Borough rose at about the same pace as in Alaska: 33% against 31%.

Rents in Kenai Peninsula Borough rose faster than in Alaska: 20% since 2015–2019, against 14%.

To compare: typical income in Kenai Peninsula Borough rose 22%; the home, +33%; the rent, +20%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKenai Peninsula BoroughAlaskaUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.9%7.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 0.8%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 4.0%5.7%3.4%
People per household 2.402.612.53
Drive alone 66%65%69%
Carpool 12%12%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 6%8%3%
Work from home 11%10%15%
Other means 5%4%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Kenai Peninsula Borough look like those in Alaska: the rental vacancy rate is 6.9%.

Fewer households are short on space in Kenai Peninsula Borough: 4.0% have more than one person per room; in Alaska, 5.7%.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.40 on average, against 2.61 in Alaska.

To get to work, 66% of workers in Kenai Peninsula Borough drive alone; in Alaska, 65%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Kenai Peninsula Borough?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $323,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income here, which is $80,538 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $111,305 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Kenai Peninsula Borough. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $11,312 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,597

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$317,346
Total interest
$456,587
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,458 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,879 a month

  • Tight

    $1,879 to $2,416 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,416 a month

    Your payment · 39%

Compared with the typical household income in Kenai Peninsula Borough ($80,538 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,597
Principal & interest$2,150
Property tax$170
Home insurance$135
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$143

You need at least $11,312 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Kenai Peninsula Borough

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Kenai Peninsula Borough compares with Alaska and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Kenai Peninsula Borough rose 72% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Alaska United States
In 2025 +4.6% +4.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +39% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +72% +52% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Kenai Peninsula Borough compared with Alaska and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Kenai Peninsula $323,200
  • Alaska $352,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Kenai Peninsula $1,184
  • Alaska $1,419
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Kenai Peninsula $80,538
  • Alaska $92,788
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Kenai Peninsula compared with Alaska and the United States
MeasureHereAlaskaU.S.
Residents60,413735,706334,922,499
Typical home value$323,200$352,900$332,700
Typical household income$80,538$92,788$80,734
Typical rent$1,184$1,419$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,390$1,519$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$26.73$29.21$33.65
Typical property tax$2,049$3,901$3,119
Effective tax rate0.63%1.11%0.94%
Households that own their home77%67%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent49%45%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Alaska shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Kenai Peninsula Borough

For a typical $323,200 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $2,597 $11,312 $317,346 7.18% FHA MIP · $143 $21,008 580
Conventional, 5% down $2,538 $16,160 $307,040 7.18% PMI · $154 $25,856 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,056 $64,640 $258,560 7.18% None $74,336 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,355 $48,480 $274,720 8.18% None $58,176 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Kenai Peninsula Borough use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($1,249,125 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $1,249,125
2 units $693,050 $1,599,375
3 units $837,700 $1,933,200
4 units $1,041,125 $2,402,625

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Kenai Peninsula Borough

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Kenai Peninsula Borough, the typical owner pays $2,049 a year: about 0.63% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of Alaska and less than the national average.

  • Kenai Peninsula 0.63%
  • Alaska 1.11%
  • United States 0.94%

What Alaska publishes Optional municipal residential exemption (Alaska State Legislature (Alaska Statutes 2025))

Exemptions and deadlines in Alaska

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Kenai Peninsula Borough 0.9% of homes (317) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 61% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Kenai Peninsula Borough

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Kenai Peninsula Borough, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Kenai Peninsula Borough as relatively moderate.

FEMA builds that rating from three parts: expected loss, social vulnerability and community resilience.

In Kenai Peninsula Borough, FEMA expects natural hazards to cause $121 million in losses a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is earthquake, at about $65.6 million in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. EarthquakeRelatively high $65.6 million a year
  2. WildfireRelatively moderate $6.8 million a year
  3. Inland floodingRelatively low $5 million a year
  4. Winter weatherRelatively high $214,380 a year
  5. Coastal floodingVery low $6,755 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

Kenai Peninsula Borough is in climate zone 7 of the home energy code (IECC): very cold.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Summer

    • Seal air leaks and add insulation in the attic: ENERGY STAR says it lowers the chance of ice dams on the roof in snowy climates. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Put clear plastic film over the windows: it is inexpensive, cuts drafts, helps the house feel warmer in winter and reduces moisture on the glass. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$44.24$25.07 and $64.35
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$40.28$25.66 and $59.90
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$28.28$21.66 and $50.50
Roofers$31.64$22.50 and $39.45
Carpenters$34.47$23.59 and $63.27
Painters, construction and maintenance$32.69$22.04 and $42.71
Maintenance and repair workers, general$29.51$18.96 and $45.24

An electrician earns about $44.24 an hour in the Alaska nonmetropolitan area, and a plumber, about $40.28.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Kenai Peninsula Borough

The typical rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough is $1,184 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

49% of renter households in Kenai Peninsula Borough spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 21% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,056 $20.31 $42,240
1 bedroom $1,063 $20.44 $42,520
2 bedrooms $1,390 $26.73 $55,600
3 bedrooms $1,925 $37.02 $77,000
4 bedrooms $2,323 $44.67 $92,920

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Kenai Peninsula Borough

Programs and counseling in Kenai Peninsula Borough

There is 1 HUD-approved housing counseling agency in Kenai Peninsula Borough. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A white stucco house with palm trees in Los Angeles.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Alaska down payment programs

  1. Closing Cost Assistance Program (CCAP)

    Alaska state authority help of 3% or 4% of the loan, paid at closing and not repaid, for the down payment, closing costs or to reduce the principal; with 30-year fixed-rate FHA, VA or USDA mortgages

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC).

    Grant Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Alaska programs

Help in Spanish in Kenai Peninsula Borough

None of the 1 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

HUD lists no public housing authority based in Kenai Peninsula Borough. The authority of a nearby county or the state may serve this area.

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in Kenai Peninsula Borough. The full list is on the Alaska counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Rural Alaska Community Action Program

    130 E Redoubt Ave, Soldotna

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 1 more
    (907) 260-3451
See every agency in Alaska

Places

Cities in Kenai Peninsula Borough

This site has no city pages of Kenai Peninsula Borough. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 4 cities of Kenai Peninsula Borough

Nearby places

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Kenai Peninsula Borough in 2026?

Kenai Peninsula Borough has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Kenai Peninsula Borough?

Kenai Peninsula Borough has a conforming limit of $1,249,125 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Kenai Peninsula Borough?

The typical home value in Kenai Peninsula Borough is $323,200 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Alaska it's $352,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough?

Kenai Peninsula Borough has a typical rent of $1,184 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,390 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Kenai Peninsula Borough?

About $26.73 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $55,600 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,390 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).