Home / Home Buying by state / Alaska / Kenai Peninsula Borough / Seward

Buying a home in Seward, Alaska

The typical owner-occupied home in Seward is worth about $338,100, 4% below the Alaska median of $352,900 and about the same as the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,104 a year in property taxes, about 0.92% of their home's value, lower than the Alaska rate of 1.11%. The median household earns $85,481 a year, so the median home costs 4.0 times the median income (3.8 times for Alaska). 69% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Seward at a glance

Seward Alaska U.S.
Median home value $338,100 $352,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,104 $3,901 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.92% 1.11% 0.94%
Median household income $85,481 $92,788 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 69% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 58% 60% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,188 $2,229 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 24.5% 21.6% 21.0%
Median rent $1,132 $1,419 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.0% 27.7% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1982 1986 1980
Vacant homes 22.6% 17.6% 10.1%
Population 2,794 735,706 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Seward

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Seward home of $338,100 with 20% down costs about $2,220 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,783, 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 $95,127 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Seward household income of $85,481; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $304,000.

The median rent here is $1,132 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,088 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$67,620
Loan amount$270,480
Principal and interest$1,820
Property taxes (0.92% a year)$259
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$141
PMI$0
Total per month$2,220

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$11,834
Loan amount$331,976
Principal and interest$2,233
Property taxes (0.92% a year)$259
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$141
FHA mortgage insurance$150
Total per month$2,783

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Seward

What is the median home value in Seward?

About $338,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Seward?

Homeowners pay a median $3,104 a year, which is about 0.92% 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 Seward?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,220 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $95,127 a year.

More about Seward

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