$288,214Average Value$201Average Price per Sq Ft75Homes For Sale
Central Alaska's urban and rural center
Fairbanks seems like a small city. It covers about 30 square miles and is home to roughly 30,000 people. But considering the wider Fairbanks North Star Borough, this small city is more like a rural metropolis — 7,400 square miles and 100,000 people. It’s the second largest population base in Alaska, behind Anchorage. It’s also a major employment base and a key part of the state’s tourism, health care, oil and mining industries. Those who live in town have quick commutes to these jobs and popular areas like Downtown Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. For those in rural neighborhoods, they’re scattered throughout the surrounding hills, and they often drive in for groceries. Both groups have an Alaskan attitude in common, though. “We have the loner mentality of ‘I’m going to leave you alone, and you leave me alone.’ On the flip side of that, somebody is going to be there to help if needed, and they’ll expect the same in return,” says Justin Heminger with Apex Realty Group at Real Broker, LLC. He lives in Fairbanks and has sold in the area since 2015. “When intense snowstorms happen, the community Facebook groups fill with people asking and receiving help from neighbors. We had a chimney fire once in the dead of winter. All my neighbors showed up, and they made sure my family was safe in their nice, warm cars. The people of Fairbanks will move heaven and earth to help out.”
Experience the midnight sun in Downtown Fairbanks.
Residents enjoy the shopping and dining options found in Downtown Fairbanks.
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Creamer’s Field, Chena River and seasonal sports
Some people consider Fairbanks “the gateway to the Arctic” — the pass-through point for all the outdoor opportunities above the Arctic Circle. But this urban center has innumerable open spaces nearby. “Fairbanks is a city, but it’s still the last frontier here,” Heminger says. “The rural areas are huge, and you don’t have to go very far until you’re out in the wilderness. It always blows me away just how big everything is.” Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge is a former dairy farm turned preserve, and it’s known for its sandhill crane population. The Chena River and accompanying riverwalk wind through the middle of the city and connect to Pioneer Park, a historical park themed after the Alaska gold rush. On the edge of town, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Birch Hill Recreation Area have extensive trail networks, and some hills have south-facing views of the Alaska Mountains. Denali National Park and Preserve protects about 6 million acres of this range. Tourists come from all over the world to see it, but residents can drive the 120 miles in a weekend.
Outdoor activities in Fairbanks largely depend on the weather. Summer is the typical season for hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. Temperatures are usually in the 70s, and daylight hours increase as the solstice nears. Winter is more for skiing, dog mushing and ice fishing, but some people prefer to stay inside. Cold snaps can drop temperatures below -40 degrees, and the city receives about 65 inches of annual snow. Opposing the longer daylight hours of summer, winter can have near-constant darkness, but the northern lights are more visible.
Creamer's Field in Fairbanks is great place to see a variety of waterfowl.
Take a breath of fresh air at the Chena Riverwalk in Fairbanks.
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Iconic downtown events: Golden Days, Midnight Sun Festival
A tradition since 1952, Golden Days is a five-day event in July that includes the state’s largest parade, featuring over 100 floats in gold rush-themed décor. The Midnight Sun Festival is another longstanding event started in 1981; it’s a 12-hour-long party that celebrates the summer solstice with music, vendors and more, and over 30,000 people attend every year. The Alaska Goldpanners, the city’s amateur baseball team, also have their Midnight Sun Game at nearby Growden Memorial Park. In early August, the Tanana Valley State Fair is on the city’s north side. It’s the oldest state fair in Alaska, established in 1924.
Urban neighborhoods like Hamilton Ridge, rural ones like Farmers Loop
Traditional ranch-style homes from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s are close to historic Downtown Fairbanks. Newer versions from the 1990s and 2000s are east in Hamilton Ridge, while ones from the 1960s are toward Westgate. South Van Horn is another neighborhood in this area that hosts most of the city’s industry. South of the city, Chena Ridge is a popular neighborhood because of its hillside views. Northern areas like Goldstream and Farmers Loop are more rural and have bigger lots, and wildlife is more common. The city’s overall median sale price is $300,000, roughly $100,000 cheaper than Anchorage.
An A-frame home sits in the remote neighborhood of Farmers Loop.
South Van Horn has a variety of homes styles and comes in several sizes.
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Downtown Fairbanks and the Bentley Mall
Downtown Fairbanks is on the city’s east side, but it’s the center for Fairbanks shopping and dining. Frequented by locals and tourists, this area has cuisine ranging from French to Thai, and boutiques sell everything from clothing to trinkets. Attractions here include the Fairbanks Ice Museum, Fairbanks Children’s Museum and Fairbanks Community Museum, and public art is scattered throughout. Right on the Chena River, the district’s Golden Heart Plaza also has landmarks such as the town clock tower and the Unknown First Family statue. The Bentley Mall is just north across the river, and it has department stores and other retailers.
Shop for works by local artists at the 2nd St. Gallery in Downtown Fairbanks.
Watch ice sculptures come to life at the Fairbanks Ice Museum in Downtown.
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Taking the bus to Fairbanks North Star Schools
Rated a B by Niche, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District serves almost 13,000 students across 33 schools. It covers the entire city and surrounding area, spanning nearly 7,400 square miles, and has an extensive bus system. Watershed Charter School is a standout with an A, and it ranks as the No. 1 public elementary school in the Fairbanks area. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is in the city’s northwestern hills and serves about 8,000 students. It was the foundation of the state’s university system, established in 1917, and now it has almost 200 degree programs.
Advance your degree at The University of Alaska Fairbanks near Aurora-Lemeta.
Watershed Charter School has been rated the best school in Fairbanks.
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Crime levels in Fairbanks
In 2023, Fairbanks had a violent crime rate slightly below the state average but significantly higher than the national one. Property crime rates were more than double the state and national averages. Trends vary from month to month, but overall crime has decreased since January 2020.
City access via Johansen Expressway, Airport Way
Fairbanks is a large city, and some people work in rural areas outside of town. Most residents drive, and three highways form a loop around the city. State Route 2 is on the east side, next to downtown; state Route 3 is to the south and west, closest to the city’s industrial district; and the Johansen Expressway is on the north side, through the College neighborhood and University of Alaska Fairbanks. Airport Way is another major thoroughfare through the middle of the city, and it leads west to Fairbanks International Airport.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Kory Ross
Video By
Tyler Hall
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kirk Maynard,
an experienced agent in this area.
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.
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On average, homes in Fairbanks, AK sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Fairbanks, AK over the last 12 months is $330,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 1526 Noble Street, a charming and historic triplex located in the heart of Fairbanks. Built in 1947, this well-maintained property offers classic character with strong rental potential, producing a gross annual income of approximately $36,000. With a total of 1,568 square feet, the home is divided into three 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom units. Two traditional 1 bedroom apartments upstairs and
Welcome to 510 Sofie Court, a beautifully crafted home tucked deep in the peaceful Two Rivers area along Chena Hot Springs Road. Surrounded by more than four acres of natural Alaskan landscape, this property offers the perfect combination of privacy, comfort, and wildlife viewing. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a two-car garage was built in 2006 with quality and efficiency in mind,
Build your dream home on this expansive lot with vast territorial and mountain views. Set atop Birch Hill in a neighborhood with large lots, very nice homes, and protective covenants, you will have the perfect balance of natural beauty and privacy, yet just minutes from town. Good building soils, large birch trees and at the end of a cul-de-sac, so no through traffic. Power adjacent. Be above the
Welcome to Sophie Plaza Apartments, the most opportune address in Fairbanks! Not only are we located within walking distance to several local businesses, we are also situated on the local bus system route. Sophie Plaza is minutes away from Ft. Wainwright, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Fairbanks International Airport. Future and current residents have the luxury of relaxing outside on
Charming 2-bedroom, 1-bath rental located at 1735 Bridgewater Drive. This unit includes a 1-car garage plus two additional outdoor parking spaces. The kitchen is fully equipped with a dishwasher, oven, microwave, garbage disposal, and refrigerator. A washer and dryer are available for use in the shared garage. No pets allowed. Minimum 6-month lease required. Water, sewer, and heat are included in
Spacious One Bedroom Apartments at Wedgewood Resort! - Love living in Fairbanks with an annual lease at Wedgewood Apartments!Wedgewood is located on a 105-acres resort surrounded by a 75-acre wildlife sanctuary and a 2,000-acre migratory wildlife refuge. Experience the natural beauty Fairbanks has to offer steps from your door. Enjoy the quiet, seclusion, and scenery along with the
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