The town named the poorest in Alaska for 2025 is Soldotna. This small city of around 4,400 people has the highest poverty rate and the second lowest median household income in the state. Factors contributing to its economic challenges include low pay and a lack of jobs, which have led to 16.4% of its population living below the poverty line. Despite these hardships, the cost of living in Soldotna is relatively affordable compared to other parts of Alaska, providing some relief to residents.
Other notably poor cities in Alaska include Wasilla, Wrangell, Ketchikan, and Kenai, which similarly struggle with poverty rates and limited economic opportunities. Soldotna’s ranking is based on an analysis of recent Census data, which evaluates both median household income and poverty levels to provide an overall “Poor Score” for cities with more than 2,000 residents. While the economic conditions are tough, these statistics serve to highlight areas in need of focused community and governmental support rather than define the character or culture of these places.
A separate source identifies Susitna North as the poorest town in Alaska, emphasizing economic hardship in some of Alaska’s more remote and rural areas as well. These locations often face additional difficulties like high unemployment, lack of basic amenities, and social challenges, which contribute to their economic status.
Sources
(https://www.roadsnacks.net/poorest-places-in-alaska/)
(https://thegroundtruthproject.org/for-a-poor-alaskan-village-oil-could-change-everything/)
(https://247wallst.com/income/2025/01/17/the-poorest-town-in-every-state-in-america/)
(https://hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov/data-portal/_social/poverty/table?statefips=02&demo=00009)
(https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/alaska-worst-state-for-
