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South Fork

South Fork

$557,276 Average Value
$268 Average Price per Sq Ft
5 Homes For Sale

South Fork offers quiet mountain living in Anchorage

Hidden away in a valley northeast of Downtown Anchorage, South Fork is a rural community known for its hiking trails and scenic views. Winding roads lead across hillsides and through dense forest, making it feel as if you’re escaping into the Alaskan frontier. While the seclusion is a major draw for most homebuyers, city life is not far away. Highly rated schools, supermarkets and locally owned restaurants are just minutes away in Eagle River, and the nearby Glenn Highway provides a straight shot into Anchorage.

With homes tucked into heavily wooded lots, residents enjoy abundant privacy in South Fork.
With homes tucked into heavily wooded lots, residents enjoy abundant privacy in South Fork.
Rushing streams flow down from the mountains through the South Fork Valley.
Rushing streams flow down from the mountains through the South Fork Valley.
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South Fork housing styles and what they cost

Most homes in South Fork are cabins or Craftsman-style houses on spacious wooded lots. Many properties sit high on the mountainside, overlooking the valley below and the surrounding ridges. “It’s an area where you have one road going into it, and it’s for people that want to be rural, but close to Anchorage. They’re after the views,” says Terry Beal, a Realtor with Re/Max Dynamic Properties with over 50 years of experience. Eagle Pointe is the lone subdivision in the area, featuring New Traditional houses on quarter-acre lots. Homes here are on public water, while the rest of the community relies on private wells and septic systems. Houses are spacious, averaging around 2,300 square feet. Homes under 3,000 square feet cost between the mid-$400,000s and the upper $800,000s. Larger houses range from the upper $600,000s to just over $1 million.

Three-level log cabin homes with picture windows provide stunning valley views.
Three-level log cabin homes with picture windows provide stunning valley views.
Hillside homes offer residents sweeping vistas of the surrounding mountains.
Hillside homes offer residents sweeping vistas of the surrounding mountains.
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Spirit Park sits atop the western slope of South Fork and promises picturesque vistas.
Spirit Park sits atop the western slope of South Fork and promises picturesque vistas.

Popular trails and parks in the Chugach Mountains

Hiking is a popular activity in South Fork, with several trails in and around the neighborhood.

  • The South Fork Valley Trail is 4.8 miles one way and leads to the scenic Eagle Lake.
  • Rendezvous Peak can be reached by a 6-mile trek that also starts at the South Fork Valley Trailhead.
  • South Fork Falls is a quick and easy 1.3-mile hike to a roaring waterfall.
  • The Harp Mountain Trail is a moderate 1.5-mile trail leading to a 5,000-foot peak.
For a traditional park setting, visit Spirit Park for its playground and basketball court.

Highly rated schools in nearby Eagle River

Students in South Fork will likely be part of the Anchorage School District and attend the top-rated Eagle River High School. The school has been ranked as one of the best in the state and is known for its engineering program. Students in the program gain hands-on experience with the same technology used by leading companies like Lockheed Martin and Intel. Eagle River also has a successful athletic department, winning championships in sports like softball and co-ed cheer.

Homestead Elementary is a highly rated school.
Homestead Elementary is a highly rated school.
Middle school students can attend Gruening Middle School in nearby Eagle River.
Middle school students can attend Gruening Middle School in nearby Eagle River.
Eagle River High School is a top-rated school in the Anchorage area.
Eagle River High School is a top-rated school in the Anchorage area.
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Eagle River Shopping Center is one of many shopping areas along Old Glenn Highway.
Eagle River Shopping Center is one of many shopping areas along Old Glenn Highway.

Where to go for shopping, dining and medical care near South Fork

While South Fork feels like it’s far away from the rest of the world, daily necessities are just 8 miles away in Eagle River.

  • Shop for groceries and other household items at Walmart, Carrs or Fred Meyer.
  • Snack on burgers and bar food at Eagle River Alehouse.
  • Visit Providence ExpressCare if you need a doctor.

A simple commute into the city

Hiland Road is the main avenue through the neighborhood, connecting to Eagle River Loop Road and Glenn Highway for the 17-mile drive into Anchorage. “If you’re back in the valley, say 5 miles, it probably takes you 10 minutes to get to Glenn Highway and then another 20 minutes to get into town,” Beal says. “It gives a person a chance to wind up for the day and unwind at the end of the day.” While the drive is straightforward and scenic, backups can happen due to accidents and bad weather, since the highway is the only route into the city. If your commute takes you north of the neighborhood, you’ll have a 35-mile drive to Palmer or a 36-mile drive to Wasilla.

Wildlife safety tips for living in rural Anchorage

In a rural neighborhood where you’re likely to see wildlife, especially bears, there are some common-sense tips to practice. Alaska Waste provides bear-proof trash cans to customers in high-risk areas. The company also encourages you to keep trash inside or in your garage until pickup day, keep any other bear attractants indoors and take bird feeders down in the spring when bears wake up from hibernation.

Matthew Atkins
Written By
Matthew Atkins
Chad Jackson
Photography Contributed By
Chad Jackson
Ellie Brown
Video By
Ellie Brown

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Merrill Field

34 min drive

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime South Fork US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 1 4
Assault with Weapon 2 4
Robbery 3 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 2 4
Larceny 2 4
Crime Score 1 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

South Fork Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$749,000
Median Sale Price
$744,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$745,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$578,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
44
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
9%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$268

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
582
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Median Year Built
2000
Months of Supply
1.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,610
Significantly above the national average
1,930
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,605
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
16,988

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
1,787
Median Age
40
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
23.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.7%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$149,661
Significantly above the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$168,895

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
97.9%
College Graduates
52.3%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
34.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.1%

Area Factors

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

0 / 100

Minimal Transit

Transit Score®

0 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
South Fork