Covenant Life, Alaska — Trends and Changes

How has Covenant Life, Alaska changed since 2009?

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The population has shrunk about 48 percent, from 29 to 15 people; the median household income has risen from $21,528 to $34,049 (not adjusted for inflation). Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year releases, so each point is a rolling five-year estimate.

Relative Growth Since 2009
Each line starts at 100 in 2009; a line reaching 200 means that measure doubled. Exact values for each measure are in the charts and tables below. Source: ACS 5-year estimates.
At a Glance: Then and Now
Measure20092024Change
Population2915-48%
Median household income$21,528$34,049+58%
Median age51.8 yrs46.5 yrs-5.3 yrs
College educated34.5%0.0%-34.5 points
Working from home17.4%0.0%-17.4 points
Poverty rate3.4%7.3%+3.9 points
Unemployment56.1%62.5%+6.4 points
Homeownership81.8%100.0%+18.2 points
Rent as share of income10.0%10.0%+0.0 points
Broadband at home43.5%100.0%+56.5 points
Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Median Household Income

A typical household in Covenant Life earned $21,528 a year in 2009. By 2016 that figure had climbed to $34,049, a change of +58 percent before inflation.

Year Income Alaska average
2009 $21,528 $64,363
2010 $158,750 $67,516
2011 $170,096 $69,983
2012 $31,042 $70,860
2013 $34,286 $71,339
2014 $32,337 $72,263
2015 $31,875 $72,684
2016 $34,049 $74,527
2017 $75,897
2018 $77,173
2019 $77,934
2020 $78,567
2021 $81,687
2022 $87,342
2023 $90,539
2024 $94,424
Median Home Value
Year Alaska average
2009 $219,557
2010 $229,113
2011 $234,839
2012 $237,084
2013 $241,205
2014 $245,022
2015 $248,350
2016 $253,984
2017 $260,239
2018 $263,444
2019 $268,967
2020 $274,691
2021 $282,133
2022 $316,270
2023 $331,130
2024 $349,158
Population

Covenant Life counted 29 residents in 2009 and 15 in 2024. The population peaked around 151 in 2014.

Year Residents
2009 29
2010 59
2011 100
2012 138
2013 127
2014 151
2015 105
2016 143
2017 36
2018 35
2019 37
2020 9
2021 9
2022 25
2023 19
2024 15
College Degrees, Remote Work and Broadband

The share of adults holding a college degree went from 34.5% to 0.0%. Meanwhile remote work went from 17.4% of workers to 0.0%. Broadband reached 100.0% of households, from 43.5% in 2017.

Year College educated Working from home Broadband at home
2009 34.5% 17.4%
2010 10.7% 5.6%
2012 48.5%
2013 60.6%
2014 65.5%
2015 72.7%
2016 81.7%
2017 27.8% 43.5%
2018 22.9% 38.1%
2019 21.6% 34.8%
2020 100% 100%
2021 100% 100%
2022 36% 100%
2023 100%
2024 100%
Percent of adults with a college degree; percent of workers who work from home; percent of households with a broadband subscription (tracked since 2017).
Median Age

The median resident of Covenant Life was 51.8 years old in 2009. The town has been getting younger since: the median age reached 46.5 by 2022.

Year Median age
2009 51.8
2010 19.5
2011 21.2
2012 21.8
2013 38.3
2014 38.3
2015 43.3
2016 43.4
2017 70.4
2018 70.3
2019 70.3
2022 46.5
Poverty and Unemployment

About 7.3% of residents live below the poverty line, up from 3.4% in 2009. Unemployment stands at 62.5%.

Year Poverty rate Unemployment
2009 3.4%
2010 3.4%
2011 14% 56.1%
2012 10.1% 53.7%
2013 8.7% 58%
2014 7.3% 62.5%
Income Inequality (Gini Index)

The Gini index measures income inequality: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 would mean a single household earns everything. Covenant Life scores 0.31, down from 0.35 - incomes here have grown more equal.

Year Gini index
2010 0.4
2011 0.4
2012 0.5
2013 0.4
2014 0.4
2015 0.1
2016 0.0
2017 0.1
2018 0.2
2019 0.2
2022 0.3
Housing: Ownership, Vacancy, Rent Burden

100.0% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them, up from 81.8% in 2009. The typical renter puts 10.0% of household income toward rent. About 88.3% of housing units sit vacant, a level that usually signals seasonal or vacation homes.

Year Homeownership Rent as share of income Vacant units
2009 81.8% 65.1%
2010 43.8% 10% 68.6%
2011 48% 10% 40.5%
2012 70.6% 10% 29.2%
2013 34.4% 28.9%
2014 53.5% 21.8%
2015 85.4% 20%
2016 90.9% 22.8%
2017 56.5% 51.1%
2018 61.9% 70.4%
2019 65.2% 68.9%
2020 91%
2021 88.3%
2022 43.8% 82.6%
2023 100% 88.2%
2024 100% 88.3%
Who Lives Here

Residents identifying as something other than non-Hispanic white make up 40.5% of the town, up from 3.4% at the start of the period.

Year Nonwhite or Hispanic
2010 3.4%
2011 24%
2012 39.9%
2013 26%
2014 41.7%
2015 55.2%
2016 67.8%
2017 36.1%
2018 37.1%
2019 40.5%