Unemployment in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties
In Northwest Arctic Borough, 9.9% of the labor force was out of work, on average (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026). That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 74% of U.S. counties.
What drives Northwest Arctic Borough's score
In Northwest Arctic Borough, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 95.0. About one in three adults aged 25 to 54 (35.3%, 2020 to 2024) isn't working, a higher share than in 95% of U.S. counties. Income and the safety net comes next, at 66.1.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Northwest Arctic Borough does better than most counties on two measures: renters paying half their income or more in rent (7.1%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a disability (11.7%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Northwest Arctic Borough ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 95.0 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorAdults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working35.3% · 2020 to 202495th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average9.9% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202695th percentile
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- 66.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line34.0% · 202495th percentile
- People with a disability11.7% · 2020 to 202412th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$72,928 · 202433rd percentile
- People below the poverty line23.8% · 202494th percentile
- People without health insurance18.1% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
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- 65.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 20258th percentile
- People with a credit card behind12.1% · August 202595th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.1% · Q4 202591st percentile
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- 50.7 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income33.0% · fiscal year 202795th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent7.1% · 2020 to 20246th percentile
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- 45.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector34.7% · August 202585th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 peoplenot published for this county; scored at the state median · 20255th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in Northwest Arctic Borough comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Northwest Arctic Borough
Alaska
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Northwest Arctic Borough in 2024, pay from work was 55 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 7 cents. Benefit checks were 38 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 13 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Northwest Arctic Borough, benefit checks rose from 13 to 38 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska: 38.2% and 54.7% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 38.2% of all personal income in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Northwest Arctic Borough, 8.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Northwest Arctic Borough has changed
The number of people living in Northwest Arctic Borough grew by about 79% between 1969 and 2024, from 3,983 to 7,134. The number of jobs located there grew by about 39% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 14.9% in 1990 to 10.0% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 3,983 | 2024 7,134 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 2,160 | 2024 2,999 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 14.9% | 2025 10.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1993 22.6% | 2024 23.8% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1993 $37,236 | 2024 $72,928 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 12.9% | 2024 38.2% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Northwest Arctic Borough's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 7,793, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1986
Incorporated June 2, 1986. Wikipedia
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Since 1994
7 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Northwest Arctic Borough, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Northwest Arctic Borough beside its neighbors
Northwest Arctic Borough scores higher than all three counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Northwest Arctic Borough ranks 2nd of the four; Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is highest, at 40.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arctic Borough, AK | 74 | 23.8% | 38.2% |
| Nome Census Area, AK | 58 | 22.4% | 31.0% |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK | 53 | 19.9% | 40.2% |
| North Slope Borough, AK | 24 | 14.8% | 9.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Northwest Arctic Borough the poorest county in Alaska?
No, Northwest Arctic Borough's poverty rate was 23.8% in 2024, 3rd highest of 30 in Alaska (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Kusilvak Census Area, at 34.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Northwest Arctic Borough ranks 1st of 30 in the state.
Northwest Arctic Borough in photographs
Places in Northwest Arctic Borough from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
The Kotzebue Sound as seen from Cape Krusenstern.
Photo: Education Specialist via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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Kotzebue AFS, Alaska.
Photo: United States Air Force via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
23.8% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in four people. Among children it was 34.0%.
Is Northwest Arctic Borough the poorest county in Alaska?
No, Northwest Arctic Borough's poverty rate was 23.8% in 2024, 3rd highest of 30 in Alaska (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Kusilvak Census Area, at 34.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Northwest Arctic Borough ranks 1st of 30 in the state.
What is the population of Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
About 7,134 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 7,793, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Northwest Arctic Borough
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,311 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Northwest Arctic Borough · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Northwest Arctic Borough comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.