Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.8 | 94,840 people · 7th most distressed in Alaska
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Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.8 — 1970th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Alaska, it ranks 7th of 30 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Fairbanks North Star Borough's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 75.7 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 75.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 79
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 91
Economic Vitality 67.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 62
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Consumer Credit Distress 36.6
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 31
Structural Poverty 23.8
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 25
Transfer Income Dependency 17
Legal Distress 1.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 1

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fairbanks North Star Borough
Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK 43.8 Normal —
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK 44.5 Normal +0.7
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK 30.2 Healthy -13.5
Denali Borough, AK 19.3 Healthy -24.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fairbanks North Star Borough
Warren County, NJ 43.8 Normal +0.1
Calvert County, MD 43.6 Normal -0.1
Newaygo County, MI 43.9 Normal +0.1
Watauga County, NC 43.6 Normal -0.1
Franklin County, PA 43.9 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Fairbanks North Star Borough as a CSV file.

Find Help in Fairbanks North Star Borough

Find an Attorney

Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 907-272-7469

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Fairbanks North Star Borough residents at no cost.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) 1-888-478-2572

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska?

    Fairbanks North Star Borough has a County Distress Index score of 43.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,970th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Alaska out of 30 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fairbanks North Star Borough?

    The primary driver of distress in Fairbanks North Star Borough is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 75.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Fairbanks North Star Borough compare to neighboring counties?

    Fairbanks North Star Borough (43.8) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK (44.5); Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK (30.2); Denali Borough, AK (19.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Fairbanks North Star Borough's score of 43.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Fairbanks North Star Borough's CDI score?

    Fairbanks North Star Borough's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Fairbanks North Star Borough?

    Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska has a population of approximately 94,840 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.