Census 2025 estimates · CMS September 2026 · CDC 2020
Senior housing development in Alaska
Alaska had 42,277 residents aged 75 and older in July 2025, +41.5% since April 2020 (US +23.4%), and 8,199 aged 85 and older (+26.5%). Its 20 certified nursing homes hold 815 beds, 99.4 for every 1,000 people 85 and older, fewer than the US ratio of 222.6. Certificate of need for nursing home beds: yes; for assisted living: not listed.
- Age 75+ (2025)
- 42,277
- Growth since 2020
- +41.5%
- Nursing beds per 1,000 aged 85+
- 99.4
- Assisted living beds per 1,000 aged 75+
- 44.9
Demand: the older population
| Age group | April 2020 | July 2025 | Change | US change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 and older | 29,883 | 42,277 | +41.5% | +23.4% |
| 85 and older | 6,480 | 8,199 | +26.5% | +11.3% |
Nationally, the Census Bureau's 2023 projections have the 75+ population growing 21% from 2025 to 2030 and the 85+ population 59% from 2025 to 2035. The bureau publishes those projections for the US only, not by state.
Supply: licensed beds
| Setting | Beds | Per 1,000 aged 75+ | Per 1,000 aged 85+ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing homes (Medicare or Medicaid certified) | 815 | 19.3 | 99.4 | CMS, September 2026 |
| Residential care / assisted living | 1,900 | 44.9 | 231.7 | CDC survey, 2020 |
US: 222.6 nursing beds and 170.1 assisted living beds per 1,000 aged 85+. Assisted living beds are CDC's 2020 survey estimate, its latest with state detail, set against 2025 population, so the ratio understates any supply added since.
Certificate of need
- Nursing home beds
- Yes
- Assisted living
- Not listed
- Notes
- Capital expenditures over $1M, including "Converting a building ... to a nursing home"
From NCSL's certificate of need table (updated April 29, 2025, covering January 2025) with later changes checked on state sites on October 24, 2026. "Not listed" means NCSL does not name assisted living, not that it is exempt. Confirm with the state health planning agency before relying on it. HUD requires a state CON for nursing home beds where the state has one (Handbook 4232.1, 2.5.EE).
Counties
The 25 counties with the most residents aged 75+, with certified nursing home beds per 1,000 aged 85+.
| County | Age 75+ | Since 2020 | Share of population | Age 85+ | Nursing homes | Beds per 1,000 aged 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | 16,074 | +35.5% | 5.6% | 3,365 | 3 | 73.7 |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 6,332 | +46.2% | 5.3% | 1,141 | 2 | 117.4 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 5,210 | +47.2% | 8.4% | 912 | 3 | 140.4 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 4,745 | +44.9% | 5% | 889 | 1 | 79.9 |
| Juneau City and Borough | 2,126 | +53.6% | 6.7% | 418 | 1 | 136.4 |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 1,074 | +39.3% | 7.9% | 215 | 1 | 134.9 |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 706 | +53.1% | 5.7% | 121 | 1 | 181.8 |
| Sitka City and Borough | 677 | +33.0% | 8.1% | 143 | 1 | 132.9 |
| Bethel Census Area | 578 | +24.6% | 3.1% | 74 | 1 | 243.2 |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 522 | +49.6% | 7.2% | 97 | 0 | 0 |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 410 | +36.7% | 7.1% | 73 | 0 | 0 |
| Petersburg Borough | 380 | +56.4% | 11.2% | 83 | 1 | 180.7 |
| Chugach Census Area | 379 | +50.4% | 5.8% | 57 | 2 | 350.9 |
| Nome Census Area | 360 | +47.5% | 3.7% | 58 | 1 | 310.3 |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 321 | +32.1% | 6.4% | 62 | 0 | 0 |
| Haines Borough | 246 | +56.7% | 11.9% | 59 | 0 | 0 |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | 243 | +50.0% | 10.7% | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Copper River Census Area | 226 | +65.0% | 8.5% | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| North Slope Borough | 220 | +50.7% | 2.1% | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| Kusilvak Census Area | 213 | +34.8% | 2.7% | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Wrangell City and Borough | 210 | +21.4% | 10.5% | 38 | 1 | 473.7 |
| Dillingham Census Area | 204 | +22.2% | 4.6% | 47 | 0 | 0 |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | 189 | +7.4% | 2.7% | 46 | 1 | 391.3 |
| Aleutians East Borough | 125 | +92.3% | 3.6% | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Aleutians West Census Area | 118 | +162.2% | 2.3% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
Fastest growth in the 75+ population
- Juneau City and Borough: +53.6% (2,126)
- Kenai Peninsula Borough: +47.2% (5,210)
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough: +46.2% (6,332)
- Fairbanks North Star Borough: +44.9% (4,745)
- Anchorage Municipality: +35.5% (16,074)
Counties with at least 2,000 residents aged 75+.
Fewest nursing beds per 1,000 aged 85+
- Anchorage Municipality: 73.7 (248 beds, 3,365 aged 85+)
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough: 117.4 (134 beds, 1,141 aged 85+)
Counties with at least 1,000 residents aged 85+.
HUD Section 232 construction in Alaska
Since fiscal 2001 HUD has insured 0 new construction or substantial rehabilitation loans on care facilities in Alaska (0 assisted living, 0 nursing homes), $0 million of original principal.
Planning a building in Alaska? Model the budget, lease-up and a HUD 232 construction loan.
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Sources: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 county population estimates; CMS Nursing Home Provider Information (September 2026); CDC/NCHS National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study (2020); HUD Office of Healthcare Programs endorsement database (data run 07/08/2026); NCSL. Absorption is operated by Janover Capital LLC and is not affiliated with any of them. Methodology.