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Borough in Alaska

Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska

Ketchikan Gateway Borough, in Alaska, has 13,768 residents: No. 7 of 30 by population. Ketchikan Gateway Borough has an FHA limit of $541,287 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $393,300. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,733 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $33.33 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $393,300

    +11% vs. Alaska +18% vs. U.S.

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

    • Ketchikan Gateway
    • Alaska
    • United States

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

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,733 a month

    +14% vs. Alaska Same as the U.S.

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

    • Ketchikan Gateway
    • 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.

    • Ketchikan Gateway
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.67% of value per year

    −40% vs. Alaska −29% vs. U.S.

    $2,619 a year for the typical owner

    • Ketchikan Gateway
    • Alaska
    • United States

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$401,632
5.2% more than 12 months ago

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

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Ketchikan Gateway Borough today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $3,174, that is, 41% of the typical household income in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $136,008 a year; the typical income here is $92,885. Homes here are worth 11% more than the average across Alaska. The typical property tax is $2,619 a year (about 0.67% of home value), lower than in Alaska.

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

Only here

What sets Ketchikan Gateway Borough apart

  1. Ketchikan Gateway Borough has the highest typical rent in its area: $1,505, more than any of its 6 neighboring boroughs; next is Juneau City and Borough ($1,444).

  2. Among the neighboring boroughs, Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area has the lowest typical home value ($225,300), 43% below the $393,300 in Ketchikan Gateway Borough.

  3. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Ketchikan Gateway Borough rose 30% on FHFA's index, slower than in Alaska (39%).

  4. At $1,505, Ketchikan Gateway Borough ranks 3rd among the 30 boroughs in Alaska for the highest typical rent.

  5. Ketchikan Gateway Borough has the 3rd largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 25 boroughs in Alaska with this figure (49%).

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

The homes here

Housing in Ketchikan Gateway Borough

What homes there are in Ketchikan Gateway 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

In Ketchikan Gateway Borough, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Alaska, 6.

Year built

In Ketchikan Gateway Borough, half of the homes were built before 1977; in Alaska, before 1986.

Homes in Ketchikan Gateway Borough are smaller: 51% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Alaska, 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

By price, most homes in Ketchikan Gateway Borough sit under the FHA limit for this borough ($541,287): about 77%.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,150 a month

Alaska: $2,229 a month

Without a mortgage

$695 a month

Alaska: $690 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Alaska: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Ketchikan Gateway Borough is $2,150 a month, near the figure in Alaska ($2,229).

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

The typical home value in Ketchikan Gateway Borough rose 36% since 2015–2019, more than in Alaska (31%).

The typical rent in Ketchikan Gateway Borough rose 29% over the same time; in Alaska, it rose 14%.

While home values in Ketchikan Gateway Borough changed +36% and rent +29%, the typical household income rose 28%.

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

MeasureKetchikan Gateway BoroughAlaskaUnited States
Rental vacancy 8.5%7.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.0%5.7%3.4%
People per household 2.342.612.53
Drive alone 69%65%69%
Carpool 13%12%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 7%8%3%
Work from home 6%10%15%
Other means 3%4%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Ketchikan Gateway Borough is 8.5%, higher than in Alaska (7.0%).

Fewer households are short on space in Ketchikan Gateway Borough: 3.0% have more than one person per room; in Alaska, 5.7%.

On average, a household in Ketchikan Gateway Borough has 2.34 people, fewer than in Alaska (2.61).

The car rules in Ketchikan Gateway Borough: 69% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $393,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 41% of the typical household income here, which is $92,885 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $136,008 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Ketchikan Gateway 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 $13,766 (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

$3,174

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$386,176
Total interest
$555,616
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,642 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,167 a month

  • Tight

    $2,167 to $2,787 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,787 a month

    Your payment · 41%

Compared with the typical household income in Ketchikan Gateway Borough ($92,885 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,174
Principal & interest$2,616
Property tax$220
Home insurance$164
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$174

You need at least $13,766 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Ketchikan Gateway 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough rose 53% 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 −6.3% +4.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +30% +39% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +53% +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

Ketchikan Gateway 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
  • Ketchikan Gateway $393,300
  • Alaska $352,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Ketchikan Gateway $1,505
  • Alaska $1,419
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Ketchikan Gateway $92,885
  • Alaska $92,788
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Ketchikan Gateway compared with Alaska and the United States
MeasureHereAlaskaU.S.
Residents13,768735,706334,922,499
Typical home value$393,300$352,900$332,700
Typical household income$92,885$92,788$80,734
Typical rent$1,505$1,419$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,733$1,519$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$33.33$29.21$33.65
Typical property tax$2,619$3,901$3,119
Effective tax rate0.67%1.11%0.94%
Households that own their home69%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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough

For a typical $393,300 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 $3,174 $13,766 $386,176 7.18% FHA MIP · $174 $25,565 580
Conventional, 5% down $3,101 $19,665 $373,635 7.18% PMI · $187 $31,464 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,515 $78,660 $314,640 7.18% None $90,459 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,879 $58,995 $334,305 8.18% None $70,794 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 Ketchikan Gateway 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 Ketchikan Gateway 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the typical owner pays $2,619 a year: about 0.67% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of Alaska and less than the national average.

  • Ketchikan Gateway 0.67%
  • 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?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Ketchikan Gateway 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)

In Ketchikan Gateway Borough, FEMA rates the natural hazard risk as very low.

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

The loss FEMA expects each year in Ketchikan Gateway Borough from all natural hazards is $1.9 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

The hazard that would do the most damage to homes and buildings here is inland flooding: about $722,438 a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingVery low $722,438 a year
  2. EarthquakeVery low $81,735 a year
  3. Winter weatherRelatively low $27,710 a year
  4. WildfireVery low $3,640 a year
  5. Coastal floodingVery low $2,348 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

Ketchikan Gateway Borough is climate zone 5C in the home energy code (IECC): marine.

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

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Summer

    • 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)
    • 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)

  • 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)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Winter

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)

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

In the Alaska nonmetropolitan area, half of electricians earn more than $44.24 an hour and half earn less; for a plumber, the typical figure is $40.28.

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

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Ketchikan Gateway Borough

The typical rent in Ketchikan Gateway Borough is $1,505 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 Ketchikan Gateway 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 $1,207 $23.21 $48,280
1 bedroom $1,325 $25.48 $53,000
2 bedrooms $1,733 $33.33 $69,320
3 bedrooms $2,400 $46.15 $96,000
4 bedrooms $2,897 $55.71 $115,880

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

Free help in Ketchikan Gateway Borough

Programs and counseling in Ketchikan Gateway Borough

We didn't find counseling agencies near this borough.

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

The simple kitchen of an apartment, with an electric stove, a refrigerator and wood cabinets.

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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough

None of the 0 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 Ketchikan Gateway 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

We didn't find counseling agencies near this borough.

Places

Cities in Ketchikan Gateway Borough

This site has no city pages of Ketchikan Gateway Borough. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 1 cities of Ketchikan Gateway Borough

Nearby places

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Ketchikan Gateway 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough in 2026?

Ketchikan Gateway 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough?

Ketchikan Gateway 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough?

The typical home value in Ketchikan Gateway Borough is $393,300 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Alaska it's $352,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Ketchikan Gateway Borough?

Ketchikan Gateway Borough has a typical rent of $1,505 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,733 (Fiscal year 2027).

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

About $33.33 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $69,320 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,733 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).