Overview
Matanuska-Susitna Borough is home to 110,677 residents (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), making it Alaska's second-largest borough by population, larger than roughly 93% of boroughs and census areas in the state. Located in Southcentral Alaska, north of Anchorage, the Mat-Su sits in the upper Matanuska and Susitna river valleys between the Talkeetna and Chugach mountain ranges.
The borough's median household income of $90,625 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) places it higher than 92% of U.S. counties. Its median age of 36.6 years (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) is younger than 86% of counties nationally. That combination, high income and a young population, sets the Mat-Su apart from most of Alaska's rural boroughs and census areas.
The labor force totals 54,021 workers (BLS LAUS, 2025), and the borough has recorded 19 federal disaster declarations since 1986 (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026), covering everything from floods to earthquakes to wildfires.
Demographics
At 36.6 years, the borough's median age sits well below the national median. Only about 14% of U.S. counties have a younger population (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Within Alaska, the Mat-Su falls in the lower third for age, reflecting a population that skews toward working-age adults and families rather than retirees.
The racial composition is 76.4% white, 5.6% Alaska Native or American Indian, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% Asian, and 1.3% Black (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). The Alaska Native share, while modest compared to many rural Alaska boroughs, ranks higher than 94% of all U.S. counties. The borough sits near the midpoint nationally for its white population share (42nd national ranking) and Hispanic share (52nd).
Educational attainment lags behind many peers. Just 24.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), placing the borough around the 61st ranking nationally. For Alaska, that's roughly mid-pack, at the 57th position among boroughs and census areas. The gap between the Mat-Su's high household incomes and its relatively modest college attainment rates suggests that many residents earn well in trades, military, oil and gas, or other fields that don't require four-year degrees.
Education
The borough's public schools enroll 18,220 students (Education Data Portal, 2021), more than 93% of Alaska's other boroughs and census areas and 84% of counties nationally.
Per-pupil spending sits at $17,634 (Education Data Portal, 2020), about 18% above the national average of roughly $15,000. That sounds generous, but context matters: Alaska's cost of living and transportation logistics push education costs higher across the state. The Mat-Su actually ranks in the bottom 11% of Alaska boroughs for per-pupil spending, suggesting it spends less than most of its in-state peers.
The student-teacher ratio of 19.5 to 1 (Education Data Portal, 2021) exceeds the national average of approximately 15.5 to 1 by a wide margin. It ranks higher than 96% of U.S. counties, meaning classrooms here are more crowded than in the vast majority of the country. Within Alaska, the ratio sits at the 85th position among boroughs.
The graduation rate of 84.3% (Education Data Portal, 2019) falls slightly below the national average of about 87%. It ranks lower than roughly 68% of U.S. counties. Within Alaska, it performs better, higher than 81% of boroughs and census areas.
Taken together, the picture is one of large class sizes and below-average graduation rates offset somewhat by above-average spending. Whether that spending translates into outcomes remains an open question.
Economy & Employment
Median household income of $90,625 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) puts the Mat-Su well above the national median of roughly $75,000. It's higher than 92% of U.S. counties and 79% of Alaska boroughs. Per capita income is $40,945 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 81% of counties nationally but closer to the middle of the pack within Alaska (43rd position).
The gap between household and per capita income is worth noting. It suggests that households here often have multiple earners, consistent with the borough's younger, family-heavy demographics.
The labor force of 54,021 includes 51,215 employed workers and 2,806 unemployed (BLS LAUS, 2025). The unemployment rate of 5.2% is higher than 84% of U.S. counties. Within Alaska, it sits in the lower third (27th position), meaning most other Alaska boroughs have higher unemployment. A 5.2% rate isn't alarming, but it runs above the national average.
The poverty rate of 10.0% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) falls below the national average and is lower than 73% of U.S. counties. For Alaska, it's right at the median. So most households are doing well, though one in ten still falls below the poverty line.
IRS data from 2021 shows 50,830 tax returns filed in the borough, with an average adjusted gross income of $80,052 and average total income of $80,720 (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Total AGI across the borough was $4.07 billion. These figures rank higher than 83% of U.S. counties.
Mean commute time is 31.1 minutes (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), longer than 94% of U.S. counties and 90% of Alaska boroughs. Many Mat-Su residents commute to Anchorage for work, which explains the long drive times. The commute data reinforces that the borough functions partly as a bedroom community for the Anchorage metro area.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value is $319,200 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 87% of U.S. counties and 71% of Alaska boroughs. Median gross rent of $1,258 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) exceeds 88% of counties nationally but sits right at the median for Alaska (50th position).
HUD Fair Market Rents for 2026 give a clearer picture of the current rental market: $1,015 for an efficiency, $1,049 for a one-bedroom, $1,376 for a two-bedroom, $1,914 for a three-bedroom, and $2,308 for a four-bedroom (HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026). A family renting a three-bedroom unit at fair market rate would spend $22,968 per year, about 25% of the borough's median household income. That ratio is manageable, though it leaves less room than the raw income numbers might suggest once Alaska's higher costs for food, fuel, and utilities are factored in.
The borough has 50,922 total housing units, of which 11,240 are vacant, a vacancy rate of 22.1% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). That rate is higher than 76% of U.S. counties. In Alaska, where seasonal and recreational housing is common, the borough's vacancy rate actually ranks in the lower third (32nd position) among boroughs and census areas. Many of those vacant units are likely cabins, seasonal homes, or properties in remote areas of this geographically vast borough.
Health & Wellness
The borough's health data reveals some patterns worth watching. Obesity affects 37.0% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than about 61% of U.S. counties. Depression rates run at 22.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023), among the highest in Alaska (93rd position among boroughs). Poor mental health days affect 16.6% of adults, higher than 85% of counties nationally.
Physical health indicators sit closer to the middle: 13.2% report frequent poor physical health days, and 30.4% have high blood pressure (CDC PLACES, 2023). Diabetes prevalence is 8.3%, lower than 95% of U.S. counties, one of the borough's stronger health metrics.
Preventive care access shows a significant gap. Only 69.9% of adults had an annual checkup (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than 91% of U.S. counties. Cholesterol screening rates of 78.8% rank below 96% of counties nationally. These are some of the lowest preventive care numbers in the country.
Within Alaska, the checkup rate actually ranks at the 93rd position, which says more about Alaska's overall low rates of preventive care than about the Mat-Su's performance. Access to healthcare providers in a geographically spread-out borough with a population center far from many residents likely plays a role.
The uninsured rate of 9.9% (CDC PLACES, 2023) sits around the national midpoint (43rd national ranking) and is lower than 68% of Alaska boroughs. Nearly one in ten adults lacks coverage.
Climate & Natural Disasters
Mat-Su's average temperature is 36.7°F (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025), lower than virtually every county in the country. Daily highs average 44.4°F; lows average 28.9°F. Annual snowfall is 42.3 inches (NOAA, 2025), more than 85% of U.S. counties. Precipitation totals 29.4 inches per year, less than 71% of counties nationally.
FEMA has issued 19 disaster declarations since 1986 (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026), lower than 59% of U.S. counties for disaster frequency. The list spans five floods, five severe storms, three earthquakes, four fires, and two pandemic declarations.
Earthquakes are the hazard that sets this borough apart. A November 2018 event (FEMA EM-3410, 2018) caused widespread damage across the region, followed by a second major earthquake declaration in January 2019 (FEMA DR-4413, 2019). The borough sits in one of North America's most seismically active zones, and that's a fixed condition.
Flooding has produced five federal declarations since 1986, driven by seasonal glacial melt and river overflow. Summer fires triggered declarations in 1996, 2015, and twice in August 2019. The most recent federal disaster was a severe storm in March 2022 (FEMA DR-4646, 2022).
For buyers, the combination of seismic risk, flood exposure, and extreme cold shapes both insurance costs and structural requirements. Those aren't going away, and they're worth pricing in before any purchase decision.
Financial Profile
IRS data shows that 50,830 returns were filed in the borough for tax year 2021, reporting total adjusted gross income of $4.07 billion and total income of $4.10 billion (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Average AGI per return was $80,052. These figures rank higher than 83% of U.S. counties and 79% of Alaska boroughs.
Social Security Administration data shows 19,230 OASDI beneficiaries in the borough (SSA OASDI, 2024), a number higher than 78% of U.S. counties and 93% of Alaska boroughs. With a total population of 110,677, that means roughly 17.4% of residents receive Social Security benefits. Given the borough's young median age, that share is consistent with a population that includes a moderate retired segment alongside a larger working-age base.
Data on FDIC-insured banking institutions was not available for this borough in the current dataset.
Key Comparisons
The Mat-Su's position relative to state and national benchmarks varies significantly by category.
Where the borough ranks high nationally (above 85% of U.S. counties):
Median household income (92nd), median home value (87th), median gross rent (88th), mean commute time (94th), Alaska Native population share (94th), student-teacher ratio (96th), and HUD fair market rents for three- and four-bedroom units (89th and 90th).
Where it ranks low nationally (below 25% of U.S. counties):
Median age (14th, meaning younger), cholesterol screening (4th), annual checkups (9th), diabetes prevalence (5th, meaning lower rates), depression (30th position but 93rd within Alaska), and poor mental health days (15th, meaning higher rates).
Within Alaska, the standout pattern:
The Mat-Su is Alaska's second-largest population center and ranks at or near the top of the state for population, housing units, labor force size, school enrollment, and tax returns filed. But it falls in the lower half of the state for per capita income, per-pupil education spending, and several preventive health measures.
The borough functions as an affordable alternative to Anchorage. Home values and rents are high by national standards but moderate by Alaska standards. Incomes are strong. The tradeoffs show up in long commutes, crowded classrooms, and limited access to preventive healthcare.
Data Sources
- Census ACS 5-Year, 2023: Population, income, housing, demographics, education attainment, commute times, poverty rate
- BLS LAUS, 2025: Unemployment rate, labor force, employment counts
- CDC PLACES, 2023: Health metrics including obesity, diabetes, mental health, insurance coverage, preventive care
- HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026: Fair market rent by bedroom count
- FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026: Disaster declarations and history
- IRS Statistics of Income, 2021: Tax returns, adjusted gross income, total income
- NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025: Temperature and precipitation averages
- SSA OASDI, 2024: Social Security beneficiary counts
- Education Data Portal, 2021: Per-pupil spending, enrollment, student-teacher ratio, graduation rate