Southeast Fairbanks County
AK · Pop. 6,936 · Rural County
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area sits in Alaska across 24,832 square miles, home to 6,936 people at 0.3 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The median home price is $263,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.71%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 1b with a 47-day growing season, average summer highs of 71°F and average winter lows of -17.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 9.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Cross Road Medical Center is 141.5 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 21% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.71% holds annual carrying costs down.
- At 0.3 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
- A median household income of $74,223 anchors the local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A 47-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 9.5 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- Broadband reaches only 21% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- The nearest hospital, Cross Road Medical Center, is 141.5 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
At a glance
Southeast Fairbanks County, AK is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 9/100
- Median home price
- $263k
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- Growing season
- 47 days (zone 1b)
- Annual rainfall
- 9.5"
- Broadband
- 21%
- Nearest hospital
- Cross Road Medical Center, 141.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Southeast Fairbanks County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area?
- Southeast Fairbanks Census Area is in USDA hardiness zone 1b with a 47-day growing season, average summer highs of 71°F, and average winter lows of -17.1°F.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $263,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.71%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 21% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Cross Road Medical Center is 141.5 miles away, without an in-county emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.