Small-town market profile · Alaska
Ketchikan, AK area market data
How the Ketchikan area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 13,549
- −2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 5,732
- Median household income
- $92,885
- +27.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $393,300
- Jobs located here
- n/a
- Highest market score
- 65
- Pet businesses, #92 of 527 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Ketchikan area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Ketchikan area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Ketchikan area has an estimated 13,549 people and 5,732 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Ketchikan area declined 2.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Ketchikan area is $92,885, 15% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 27.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Ketchikan area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle insurance (88).
Of the business types scored in the Ketchikan area, pet businesses (65); auto repair and car care businesses (63); and salons, barbers and spas (61) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #92 of 527 scored small-town markets.
The Ketchikan area is made up of one county, Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for coffee shops and cafes (4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (41% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Ketchikan area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Ketchikan area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 65 | #92 of 527 | 5 | 8.7 | $1.2M | 137 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 63 | #148 of 538 | 17 | 29.7 | $325K | 121 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #126 of 538 | 16 | 27.9 | $383K | 180 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 60 | #143 of 535 | 7 | 12.2 | $982K | 148 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 59 | #157 of 538 | 9 | 15.7 | $681K | 158 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 57 | #193 of 538 | 11 | 19.2 | $503K | 113 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 56 | #212 of 526 | 5 | 8.7 | $1.6M | 158 | 4 |
| Real estate | 54 | #213 of 536 | 15 | 26.2 | Index only | 165 | 6 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 53 | #247 of 538 | 43 | 75.0 | $181K | 119 | 13 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #277 of 538 | 16 | 27.9 | $2.3M | 67 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 50 | #232 of 454 | 6 | 10.5 | $698K | 70 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 44 | #290 of 458 | 7 | 12.2 | $1.1M | 62 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 43 | #350 of 533 | 13 | 22.7 | Index only | 151 | 6 |
| Pizza | 41 | #343 of 520 | 6 | 10.5 | $4M | 79 | 15 |
| Insurance agencies | 40 | #350 of 537 | 6 | 10.5 | $1.6M | 131 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 38 | #378 of 507 | 6 | 10.5 | $4M | 97 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 32 | #422 of 536 | 11 | 19.2 | $990K | 78 | 7 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 29 | #471 of 538 | 52 | 90.7 | $464K | 70 | 13 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 25 | #485 of 538 | 107 | 186.7 | $226K | 61 | 35 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 23 | #509 of 529 | 25 | 43.6 | $966K | 26 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 22 | #499 of 536 | 34 | 59.3 | $320K | 36 | 7 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $6M | 198 | 15 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $9M | 97 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $2.6M | 109 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $12M | 153 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $2.3M | 176 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $5.7M | 233 | 10 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $2M | 233 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $2.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $8.5M | Too few | 4 |
| Gas stations | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $7M | Too few | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.9M | Too few | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3M | Too few | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $663K | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $17M | Too few | 6 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $7.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $10.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $7.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $7.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Ketchikan area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $5.5M | $965 | 101 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $14M | $2,435 | 94 |
| Food away from home | $24.1M | $4,211 | 103 |
| Groceries | $36.1M | $6,299 | 100 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.1M | $1,068 | 106 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.2M | $730 | 126 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.9M | $1,200 | 122 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.8M | $1,359 | 105 |
| Pets | $6M | $1,050 | 115 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.9M | $1,899 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $9.8M | $1,717 | 88 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $17M | $2,961 | 98 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $7.9M | $1,377 | 97 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $107.3M | $18,726 | 112 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Ketchikan area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 13,549−2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 5,732
- Median age
- 40.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 69%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 4,857 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 3
- Median household income
- $92,885+27.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $114,287
- Median home value
- $393,300
- Jobs located here
- n/a
- Daytime population
- n/aResidents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Ketchikan area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Ketchikan area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Ketchikan area 1
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK13,768 people
Other markets based in Alaska 3
- Anchorage, AK metro area401,964 people
- Fairbanks-College, AK metro area95,460 people
- Juneau, AK area31,794 people
Questions
How fast is the Ketchikan, AK area growing?
Population estimates put the Ketchikan area at 13,549 people in 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,732 households. Median household income rose 27.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Ketchikan, AK area spend?
Households in the Ketchikan area spend about $107.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $36.1M on groceries and $24.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Ketchikan area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle insurance (88).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Ketchikan, AK area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Ketchikan area are for pet businesses (65); auto repair and car care businesses (63); and salons, barbers and spas (61). The Ketchikan area ranks #92 of 527 scored small-town markets for pet businesses.
How does the Ketchikan, AK area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Ketchikan area is $92,885 a year, 15% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $393,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Ketchikan area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for coffee shops and cafes (4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (41% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 21 of the 56 business types have a score in the Ketchikan area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Ketchikan area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Ketchikan area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Ketchikan area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.