Section Image

Farmers Loop

Farmers Loop

Neighborhood in Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks North Star Borough 99709, 99712

$322,208 Average Value
$195 Average Price per Sq Ft
10 Homes For Sale

Private, wooded area above Fairbanks

Just north of Fairbanks, Farmers Loop is known for its privacy and seclusion. “Some people say we’re in the middle of nowhere, even though we’re about 5 miles from town,” says Joe Rafson, a golf professional born and raised in Fairbanks. “Not many tourists know we’re up here. It’s pretty quiet, and we get lots of wildlife like moose and foxes.” Spruce forests and rolling hills surround this residential area, and it’s a popular spot for locals seeking something more remote. Still, it’s close enough to town that restaurants and shops are a short drive south. A portion of the famous Alyeska Pipeline runs along the neighborhood’s east side; this landmark carries oil 800 miles across the state, and it took 70,000 construction workers to build. Miners came to this area during the Gold Rush, too, and residents can still see old equipment scattered throughout. While this neighborhood doesn’t get snowplowed as often as, say, downtown Fairbanks, the weather is slightly less harsh. “It’s still cold, but it’s not as cold as town,” says Eric Tupper, a lifelong Fairbanksan and a Realtor with Powered by Lymburner Realty since 2017. “When it gets 20 degrees below zero in Fairbanks, you’ll be 20 degrees warmer up there. You’re at about 1,000 feet here, as opposed to about 400 in town.”

Residents of Farmers Loop can get away from it all while being close to shopping and dining.
Residents of Farmers Loop can get away from it all while being close to shopping and dining.
Residents often see a variety of wildlife in the Farmers Loop neighborhood.
Residents often see a variety of wildlife in the Farmers Loop neighborhood.
1/2

Homesteads in the hills, subdivisions in the south

Farmers Loop has everything from one-story cabins to two-story traditionals. “A lot of the homes are single-family with a size similar to what you’d see in town,” Tupper says. “But you’ll see more diversity in style out there. A lot of people built their own property, so they’re not cookie cutter.” Additionally, lots are often bigger, and mature trees give privacy from neighbors. This is especially true in the north, farther up the neighborhood’s hills. These properties usually have sloping lots with gravel or dirt driveways. Southernmost lots, though, are smaller and have less tree cover. They have easier access to Farmers Loop Road and Fairbanks, and driveways are paved. Each property has different utilities that can influence price; newer septic systems require less maintenance, for instance, so they can drive up price. Better energy efficiency can increase value, too. It’s difficult to determine price ranges because of these factors, but dry cabins go between $65,000 and $300,000. For double stories with more room, prices are between $300,000 and $600,000. Land is available between $15,000 and $130,000. The average property sells after 52 days on the market, slower than the national average of 44 days.

Find traditional two-story homes in Farmers Loop.
Find traditional two-story homes in Farmers Loop.
Farmers Loop features homes built on a variety of lot sizes in the area.
Farmers Loop features homes built on a variety of lot sizes in the area.
1/2

Nearby schools with Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Pearl Creek Elementary is on the neighborhood’s west side, a short drive from most homes. It gets a B-plus from Niche, and its parent-teacher association organizes events throughout the year. While this school is close, others are roughly 5 miles south of most homes. Randy Smith Middle is here with a B-minus, and West Valley High is nearby with a B-minus. It ranks as Niche’s No. 2 best public high school in the district and No. 5 out of 39 schools for best STEM program in Alaska.

Pearl Creek Elementary School in Fairbanks offers students a space to thrive.
Pearl Creek Elementary School in Fairbanks offers students a space to thrive.
Educational opportunities abound at West Valley High School in Fairbanks.
Educational opportunities abound at West Valley High School in Fairbanks.
1/2

Interconnected trails and blueberry picking near Goldstream

This neighborhood is connected by an extensive network of trails, some of which are used for dog mushing or cross-country skiing in winter. The Big Eldorado Creek Trail is more suited to summer hiking; it treads 10 miles up and down spruce forest, and the original Alaska pipeline, now mostly buried, is visible for a time. The East Goldstream Hillside and Goldstream Connector Trail are used for winter mountain biking, too. These latter trails are a part of Skyline Ridge Park and Goldstream Public Use Area, covering more than 2,000 acres on the neighborhood’s west side. The land is managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and it’s popular for blueberry picking in late summer. South of the neighborhood, Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge is home to 150 resident and seasonal species of birds, and it has even more trails. The Fairbanks Golf Course is the farthest north 9-holer in the country, and it’s just west of Farmers Loop; the Midnight Sun Golf Course is the farthest north 18-holer, and it’s on the neighborhood's east side. The latter used to be overgrown and unplayable, but new ownership revamped the grounds in 2021.

Skyline Ridge Park Trailhead in Famers Loop is the perfect place for an afternoon hike.
Skyline Ridge Park Trailhead in Famers Loop is the perfect place for an afternoon hike.
Enjoy the greenery at Goldstream Public Use Area in Farmers Loop.
Enjoy the greenery at Goldstream Public Use Area in Farmers Loop.
1/2

Driving Farmers Loop Road and winter considerations

Most people need a car in Farmers Loop due to the neighborhood’s size and distance to downtown. Farmers Loop Road is the main thoroughfare that connects to most homes and the north side of Fairbanks. The city plows this road quickly, but other routes lag behind. “When we get a big storm, this neighborhood isn’t marked as a high-priority area,” Tupper says. “Side streets take a couple of days to get plowed, and driveways are done by the homeowners.” The city bus runs along Farmers Loop Road, though, so homeowners have alternatives to get into town. Connected to this road, State Route 2 runs along the neighborhood’s eastern side and leads roughly 5 miles into downtown Fairbanks. The Fairbanks International Airport is on the south side of town, so the drive from Farmers Loop is about 10 miles.

Residents can conveniently find bus stops along Farmers Loop Rd.
Residents can conveniently find bus stops along Farmers Loop Rd.
Residents enjoy the private wooded lifestyle in Farmers Loop.
Residents enjoy the private wooded lifestyle in Farmers Loop.
1/2

Bentley Mall chains and local restaurants

Farmers Loop is mostly residential, and the closest commercial options are roughly 5 miles south in Fairbanks. This northeast pocket of town holds the Bentley Mall, a complex with a Safeway, Costco, Michaels and other stores. The Hungry Robot is nearby for fresh-baked pizza, and The Banks Alehouse is a brewpub with lots of TVs for game time. Downtown Fairbanks is just south across the Chena River, and it’s more walkable. Some of the city’s most popular restaurants are here; tourists often crowd The Crepery for a stuffed crepe, and locals come to Lavelle’s Bistro for an upscale steak.

Stop in for burgers and brews at Banks Alehouse near Farmers Loop.
Stop in for burgers and brews at Banks Alehouse near Farmers Loop.
Residents of Farmers Loop can head over to The Hungry Robot for delicious wood fired pizzas.
Residents of Farmers Loop can head over to The Hungry Robot for delicious wood fired pizzas.
1/2

Winter dog mushing, summer in downtown Fairbanks

Dog mushing has been a part of the Alaskan story since the Inuit people started it roughly 3,000 years ago. Headquartered in Farmers Loop, the Alaska Dog Mushers Association (ADMA) continues this tradition with widely attended races in the winter, and the Open North American Championships are held on its grounds in March. The ADMA also sells yearly trail passes, so residents can make use of these grounds out of season. The Midnight Sun Festival is held downtown, and it’s the largest single-day event in Alaska. Popular with locals and tourists alike, this event packs streets with about 30,000 attendees, who come to celebrate the June solstice. Vendors, food, games and music are part of the festivities, and they go on from noon to midnight. Golden Days happens about a month later, and it celebrates the town’s founding in 1902. This week-long event includes the state’s largest parade, foot races, Old West costume contests and other fun activities.

Golden Heart Plaza is a popular place to relax by the river in Fairbanks.
Golden Heart Plaza is a popular place to relax by the river in Fairbanks.
Feel like you’re in like the middle of nowhere but 5 only minutes from town in Farmers Loop.
Feel like you’re in like the middle of nowhere but 5 only minutes from town in Farmers Loop.
1/2
Matt Medl
Written By
Matt Medl
Kory Ross
Photography Contributed By
Kory Ross
Jessica Johnson
Video By
Jessica Johnson

Agents Specializing in this Area

See All Agents

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

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Bobby Desrochers, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Fairbanks International

32 min drive

Bus

Farmers Loop & Sourdough Fuel Mart Inbound

Bus

Farmers Loop & Skyline Dr Outbound

Bus

Farmers Loop & Ski Boot Hill Inbound

Bus

Summit Drive Inbound

Bus

Farmers Loop & Alexander Outbound

Bus

Mcgrath Rd Outbound

Bus

Farmers Loop & Constitution Outbound

Crime and Safety

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

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$304,900
Median Single Family Price
$261,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$195
Number of Homes for Sale
10
Last 12 months Home Sales
73
Months of Supply
1.60
Median List Price
$272,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
1%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-2%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
838
Median Year Built
1985
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,029
On par with the national average
1,936
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
920
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
74,052

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Bobby Desrochers, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
4,485
Median Age
40
Population under 18
23.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$88,555
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$109,894

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
94.3%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
30.6%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
14.6%
% Population in Labor Force
66.7%

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

25 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk 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.

Reviews

Are you familiar with the Farmers Loop neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
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
Farmers Loop
Bobby Desrochers
GOLD STANDARD REAL ESTATE SERVICES, LLC
Section Image