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Buying a home in Kenai, Alaska

The typical owner-occupied home in Kenai is worth about $283,900, 20% below the Alaska median of $352,900 and 15% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,631 a year in property taxes, about 0.57% of their home's value, lower than the Alaska rate of 1.11%. The median household earns $87,083 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (3.8 times for Alaska). 70% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Kenai at a glance

Kenai Alaska U.S.
Median home value $283,900 $352,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,631 $3,901 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.57% 1.11% 0.94%
Median household income $87,083 $92,788 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 70% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 67% 60% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,733 $2,229 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.3% 21.6% 21.0%
Median rent $1,138 $1,419 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 20.7% 27.7% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1983 1986 1980
Vacant homes 11.7% 17.6% 10.1%
Population 7,641 735,706 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Kenai

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Kenai home of $283,900 with 20% down costs about $1,781 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,254, 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 $76,328 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 25% of the median Kenai household income of $87,083; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $324,000.

The median rent here is $1,138 a month, so owning the median home costs about $643 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$56,780
Loan amount$227,120
Principal and interest$1,528
Property taxes (0.57% a year)$135
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$118
PMI$0
Total per month$1,781

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$9,936
Loan amount$278,758
Principal and interest$1,875
Property taxes (0.57% a year)$135
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$118
FHA mortgage insurance$126
Total per month$2,254

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Questions about home buying in Kenai

What is the median home value in Kenai?

About $283,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Kenai?

Homeowners pay a median $1,631 a year, which is about 0.57% 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 Kenai?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,781 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $76,328 a year.

More about Kenai

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