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Buying a home in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

The typical owner-occupied home in Fairbanks North Star Borough is worth about $298,200, 16% below the Alaska median of $352,900 and 10% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,550 a year in property taxes, about 1.19% of their home's value, higher than the Alaska rate of 1.11%. The median household earns $88,267 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (3.8 times for Alaska). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 57% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Fairbanks North Star Borough at a glance

Fairbanks North Star Borough Alaska U.S.
Median home value $298,200 $352,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,550 $3,901 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.19% 1.11% 0.94%
Median household income $88,267 $92,788 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 62% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 57% 60% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,194 $2,229 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.1% 21.6% 21.0%
Median rent $1,459 $1,419 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.5% 27.7% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1985 1986 1980
Vacant homes 14.8% 17.6% 10.1%
Population 95,460 735,706 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Fairbanks North Star Borough

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fairbanks North Star Borough home of $298,200 with 20% down costs about $2,025 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,522, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $86,776 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Fairbanks North Star Borough household income of $88,267; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $303,000.

The median rent here is $1,459 a month, so owning the median home costs about $566 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$59,640
Loan amount$238,560
Principal and interest$1,605
Property taxes (1.19% a year)$296
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$124
PMI$0
Total per month$2,025

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$10,437
Loan amount$292,799
Principal and interest$1,970
Property taxes (1.19% a year)$296
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$124
FHA mortgage insurance$132
Total per month$2,522

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Questions about home buying in Fairbanks North Star Borough

What is the median home value in Fairbanks North Star Borough?

About $298,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Fairbanks North Star Borough?

Homeowners pay a median $3,550 a year, which is about 1.19% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Fairbanks North Star Borough?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,025 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $86,776 a year.

More about Fairbanks North Star Borough

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data