One In Three Alaskans Lives In Rental Housing

Sep. 30, 2002
No. 02-55

October Economic Trends Focuses on Alaska's Renters

According to October's edition of Alaska Economic Trends, Alaska has a higher proportion of its population living in rental housing than most U.S. states, ranking seventh according to Census 2000 figures.

Labor economists Jill Lewis and Rob Kreiger report in the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development monthly publication that more than 207,000 Alaskans (or 34 percent) lived in 83,000 rental units in 2000. One in three housing units in Alaska is for rent, and the Aleutians West Census area had the highest proportion of its population living in rental housing, at 68 percent. The lowest concentration of renters can be found in the Mat-Su Valley, possibly due to low sales prices of single-family homes there. According to Labor's Alaska Affordability's Index, Mat-Su is consistently ranked as one of the state's most affordable areas to buy a home.

Each March, the department's Research and Analysis Section and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation survey Alaska's landlords to get information on residential housing units. Survey results help AHFC determine housing assistance subsidy amounts and give householders a picture of cost and availability of housing. The complete Annual Rental Market Survey report is available online at www.ahfc.state.ak.us/Department_Files/Planning_Department/Indicators/2002.pdf

Also in October's Economic Trends, Jill Lewis looks at government programs to help Alaskans find affordable rentals; Lorraine Cordova and Nels Tomlinson look at the occupational database system, and Neal Fried reports on the Alaska Employment Scene.

The October issue, as well as back issues of Alaska Economic Trends, is available online at labor.alaska.gov/trends/trends.htm

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