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Kenai, AK

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Kenai, AK

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 52
Population7,562
Foreign Born1.4%
Population Density250people per mi²
Median Age34.1 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

94/100

6% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Kenai, Alaska

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $18k$34k
Comfortable $48k$71k
Luxury $116k+$179k+
Elite (Top 5%) $136k+$211k+
Affordability Ratio

105%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean93%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
10
Positive
5
Poor
0
Negative
1

Groceries

4 within 10 miles

0.7mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

7.5mi

Airport

Kenai Municipal Airport

0.8mi

Post Office

USPS — Soldotna, AK

7.7mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf2Nearest 2.5 mi
Camping20Nearest 17.2 mi
Marina1Nearest 0.7 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink1Nearest 1.5 mi
Gun Range8Nearest 5.1 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$75k-3.1%
Equal to US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$371k
43% below US avg
College Educated
24.1%
31% below US avg
WFH
7.0%
51% below US avg
Homeownership
64.8%
1% below US avg
Median Home
$249k
12% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A-
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 78% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
14.3
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−30.2%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−24.6%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.29 / 1k Residents56% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−35.8%
Burglary
0.51 / 1k Residents80% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
8.91 / 1k Residents34% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.40 / 1k Residents50% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+6Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Kenai, Alaska
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Inherited from parent state — no local data available.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
A
High Autonomy

Strong independent fundamentals that actively favor personal liberty and low regulation.

State Policy

Tax Burden
A+
Great4.6% of income
Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Net exporter (350% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season164 days204 frost-free
Annual Rainfall31.4"
Elevation85 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B+
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great65 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
B-
Fair250/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 1239 mi · coast 1232 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$120.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityAnchorage291k people are 65 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital610 miJuneau, AK
Nearest Prison2.4 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T19:26:11.000Z

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