Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

Borough in Alaska

Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska

Northwest Arctic Borough is a borough in Alaska with 7,441 residents, No. 13 of 30 by population. In Northwest Arctic Borough, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $199,100. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($2,005 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $38.56 an hour.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home price

    $199,100

    −44% vs. Alaska −40% vs. U.S.

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

    • Northwest Arctic
    • Alaska
    • United States

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

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $2,005 a month

    +32% vs. Alaska +15% vs. U.S.

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

    • Northwest Arctic
    • 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.

    • Northwest Arctic
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.10% of value per year

    −91% vs. Alaska −89% vs. U.S.

    $199 a year for the typical owner

    • Northwest Arctic
    • Alaska
    • United States

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

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Northwest Arctic Borough today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $1,512 a month: 22% of the typical household income here. The typical home value is 44% less than in Alaska overall. The typical property tax is $199 a year (about 0.1% of home value), lower than in Alaska.

20% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing, less than in Alaska (45%).

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

Only here

What sets Northwest Arctic Borough apart

  1. Northwest Arctic Borough has the smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 25 boroughs in Alaska with this figure: 20%.

  2. Nearby, in Kusilvak Census Area, the typical home value is $84,300: 58% less than in Northwest Arctic Borough ($199,100).

  3. Among the neighboring boroughs, Denali Borough has the lowest typical rent ($825), 39% below the $1,350 in Northwest Arctic Borough.

  4. At 0.1%, Northwest Arctic Borough ranks 2nd among the 27 boroughs in Alaska with this figure for the lowest effective property tax rate.

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

The homes here

Housing in Northwest Arctic Borough

What homes there are in Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic Borough, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Alaska, 6.

Year built

The typical year built in Northwest Arctic Borough is 1987, about the same as in Alaska (1986).

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 93% of owner-occupied homes in Northwest Arctic Borough are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this borough ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,525 a month

Alaska: $2,229 a month

Without a mortgage

$629 a month

Alaska: $690 a month

Owners with a mortgage

28%

Alaska: 60%

In Northwest Arctic Borough, 28% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,525 a month, against $2,229 in Alaska. Without one it drops to $629.

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, the typical home value in Northwest Arctic Borough rose 41%; in Alaska, it rose 31%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Northwest Arctic Borough did not change clearly, according to the Census.

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

MeasureNorthwest Arctic BoroughAlaskaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 35.7%5.7%3.4%
People per household 3.812.612.53
Drive alone 16%65%69%
Carpool 12%12%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 45%8%3%
Work from home 5%10%15%
Other means 22%4%2%
Typical commute under 10 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More than one person per room: that is how 35.7% of households in Northwest Arctic Borough live, more than in Alaska (5.7%).

More people live in each home here: 3.81 on average, against 2.61 in Alaska.

More people walk or bike to work in Northwest Arctic Borough: 45%, against 8% in Alaska.

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 Northwest Arctic Borough?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home of $199,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 22% of the typical household income here, which is $84,018 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Northwest Arctic 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 $6,969 (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

$1,512

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$195,493
Total interest
$281,269
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,362 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,960 a month

    Your payment · 22%

  • Tight

    $1,960 to $2,521 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,521 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Northwest Arctic Borough ($84,018 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,512
Principal & interest$1,324
Property tax$17
Home insurance$83
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$88

You need at least $6,969 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 Northwest Arctic Borough

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

How have home prices changed?

FHFA does not publish an annual price index in Northwest Arctic Borough. This usually happens when there are too few sales to measure. According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Alaska rose 52% in the 10 years through 2025.

Northwest Arctic 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
  • Northwest Arctic $199,100
  • Alaska $352,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Northwest Arctic $1,350
  • Alaska $1,419
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Northwest Arctic $84,018
  • Alaska $92,788
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Northwest Arctic compared with Alaska and the United States
MeasureHereAlaskaU.S.
Residents7,441735,706334,922,499
Typical home value$199,100$352,900$332,700
Typical household income$84,018$92,788$80,734
Typical rent$1,350$1,419$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$2,005$1,519$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$38.56$29.21$33.65
Typical property tax$199$3,901$3,119
Effective tax rate0.1%1.11%0.94%
Households that own their home64%67%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent20%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 Northwest Arctic Borough

For a typical $199,100 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 $1,512 $6,969 $195,494 7.18% FHA MIP · $88 $12,942 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,475 $9,955 $189,145 7.18% PMI · $95 $15,928 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,179 $39,820 $159,280 7.18% None $45,793 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,363 $29,865 $169,235 8.18% None $35,838 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 Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic Borough, the typical owner pays $199 a year: about 0.10% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of Alaska and less than the national average.

  • Northwest Arctic 0.10%
  • 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 Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic Borough

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic Borough, FEMA rates the natural hazard risk as relatively low.

That rating combines the loss FEMA expects with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Northwest Arctic Borough from all natural hazards is $9.9 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $301,969 in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingVery low $301,969 a year
  2. EarthquakeRelatively low $274,693 a year
  3. WildfireRelatively low $64,863 a year
  4. Winter weatherRelatively moderate $26,832 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

The home energy code (IECC) puts Northwest Arctic Borough in zone 8: subarctic.

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 Northwest Arctic Borough

The typical rent in Northwest Arctic Borough is $1,350 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

20% of renter households in Northwest Arctic Borough spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 10% 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 $1,396 $26.85 $55,840
1 bedroom $1,651 $31.75 $66,040
2 bedrooms $2,005 $38.56 $80,200
3 bedrooms $2,389 $45.94 $95,560
4 bedrooms $2,635 $50.67 $105,400

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

Free help in Northwest Arctic Borough

Programs and counseling in Northwest Arctic 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.

A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

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 Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic Borough

This site has no city pages of Northwest Arctic Borough. The neighboring counties are below.

Nearby places

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

Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic Borough?

Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic Borough?

The typical home value in Northwest Arctic Borough is $199,100 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Alaska it's $352,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Northwest Arctic Borough?

Northwest Arctic Borough has a typical rent of $1,350 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,005 (Fiscal year 2027).

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

About $38.56 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $80,200 a year, so the fair market rent of $2,005 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).