Creekside neighborhood at the base of Thunder Mountain
Lemon Creek is a midpoint between the most populated and most visited neighborhoods in Juneau. “The good thing about Lemon Creek is that you’re 10 minutes south of Mendenhall Valley and 10 minutes north of Downtown Juneau,” says PeggyAnn McConochie, a resident since 1980 and a real estate consultant with ACH Consulting. “People come in from Skagway, Haines and other communities to shop here. We have the smallest Costco in the country and a Western Auto Marine. It’s a bigger version of a Dick’s Sporting Goods or a Bass Pro Shops, and people love it.” Most residents work in the industrial area where these shops are located. The namesake Lemon Creek separates this zone from northern residential; along the neighborhood’s west side, the Glacier Highway connects this community to the rest of the coast. Thunder Mountain towers above this community, and its subtle booms can sometimes be heard below. “In the spring, as the snow starts to melt, the mountain gets flights of snow that break off and sound like thunder,” says McConochie. “It scares some people, but I think it’s beautiful.” Actual storms are a factor here, too, but they’re more wet and foggy: Lemon Creek gets the most rain in Juneau.
Mendenhall Wetlands, Lemon Creek Trail and other hikes
A marshy section of the Gastineau Channel, the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge runs along the neighborhood’s south side. Its 4,000 acres are known for birding, especially during spring and fall migrations. North of the neighborhood, the Alaskan Boundary Ranges have hiking trails with views of the water below. Lemon Creek Trail starts in the industrial district and winds about 4 miles into the hills, eventually meeting up with the namesake creek. Starting west of the neighborhood, the Heintzleman Ridge Trail is about 10 miles of steep elevation, and it offers views of the green wetlands, snowy mountains and seasonal wildflowers. These trails enter Tongass National Forest, a rainforest that covers most of Juneau and the Alexander Archipelago. While it’s geared toward tourists, Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure is about 2 miles west of Lemon Creek. This botanical garden has over 50 acres of plants, and its lookouts have panoramic views of Juneau.
Lemon Creek
Lemon Creek
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A Costco and Home Depot, next to a national forest
Lemon Creek’s stores are usually a short drive from the house, and they border Tongass National Forest to the east. Centered on Commercial Boulevard, Costco is a popular grocer here for bulk products, and Home Depot is in the next parking lot over. Alaskan Brewing Co., in business since 1986, is nearby for handcrafted beer and uses recipes that are over 100 years old. On the west side of this district, Breeze-In is a convenience store and grab-and-go bakery chain, and this is the largest location in the city. Most of this area, though, is made up of industrial warehouses and storage facilities. The city’s landfill is in the southwest corner of this district and can smell on hot days, and it sometimes attracts wildlife. “If you live in Lemon Creek, you get to see who I call Fred,” says McConochie. “He’s the biggest bald eagle I’ve ever seen, and he sits next to the entrance to the dump. He’s always looking for something to eat.” This landfill will expire in the next 20 years, though, and it's unclear how the land will be used in the future.
Shoppers can find additional options in Mendenhall Valley, about 5 miles west. Its Mendenhall and Nugget Malls have sports outfitters and department stores. This town’s diners, such as Donna’s Restaurant and Valley Restaurant, have been around for 25 years or more. Downtown Juneau has more shops and restaurants, and it’s about 5 miles from Lemon Creek. This historic district is usually packed in the summertime, and as the center for Juneau’s tourism, it gets over a million visitors annually.
Lemon Creek
Lemon Creek
Lemon Creek
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Single-family homes with mountain views
The majority of the neighborhood is single-family housing. Though these properties are mostly on flat ground, they have views of the surrounding mountains, and central homes have views of the creek. These properties with views of the creek are also closest to the industrial area in the south, and easternmost homes are nearest the Lemon Creek Correctional Center. In most cases, houses feature siding and low-pitched roofs, and backyards are fenced-in with pines and other trees. Many people have boats in Juneau, and there’s no homeowners association here; trailers are often parked in paved or gravel driveways. Sold housing prices aren’t disclosed in Alaska, but there are several current listings as of July 2024. Single-family homes range from $475,000 to $550,000. On the neighborhood’s west side, manufactured homes range from $120,000 to $350,000; they typically have two or three bedrooms. Apartments are scattered around town, too. Whatever the property type, they likely sell fast, as the average time-on-market is just six days. This is much quicker than the national average of 43 days. Logistics-wise, bears and other critters are known to investigate trash, so waste bins should be locked up.
Lemon Creek
Lemon Creek
Lemon Creek
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Elementary schools in the valley, Juneau-Borough School District
Most elementary schools are about 5 miles west into Mendenhall Valley, and they serve kindergarten through sixth grade. Formerly known as Riverbend Elementary, Kax_dig_oowu Héen Elementary is on the south side of the valley, and Niche gives it a B-minus. Sít' Eetí Shaanáx_ - Glacier Valley School is another elementary; it's about a mile northeast and gets the same rating. Along its namesake river, Mendenhall River Community School is the northernmost elementary and gets another B-minus. Thunder Mountain Middle is in the southern part of the valley and serves seventh and eighth grades. Before it was converted to a middle school, this former high school received an A and ranked in the top 5 public high schools in Alaska. Now students can bus about 5 miles south into Downtown Juneau and attend Juneau-Douglas High. It gets an A-minus. Due to funding changes for the 2024-2025 school year, some campuses may close in the future. It’s best to check with the Juneau-Borough School District for updates.
Students attend Thunder Mountain Middle School after graduating elementary school.
Riverbend Elementary School
Juneau-Douglas High School is the only high school for students residing in Juneau, AK.
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Tourists and locals at Downtown Juneau events
Lemon Creek doesn’t have many events, but residents can visit Downtown Juneau for a party. Bars and restaurants host frequent karaoke and open mic nights in the summertime, and live music is common. In September, area breweries have a beer sampling event called Capital Brewfest, and it supports the local Rotary Club. A parade comes to town on the Fourth of July; it continues across the Gastineau Channel and onto Douglas Island. Competitions include sand castle building and a hose race, where firefighters compete to unfurl their hose before water arrives.
Lemon Creek
Lemon Creek
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Walkable to the industrial district and shops, driving around Juneau
Lemon Creek is a pretty small neighborhood, and people can walk around the wide streets. Major thoroughfares, the Glacier Highway and Commercial Boulevard, have sidewalks, but most people drive. If residents work in the industrial area, they don’t have much of a commute. Some people work in Mendenhall Valley or Downtown Juneau, though. These areas are about 5 miles north and south on the Glacier Highway respectively. The Juneau International Airport is on the south side of Mendenhall Valley, too, and the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal is about 10 miles west of Lemon Creek. This terminal is Juneau’s only access point to the Alaskan Marine Highway, a water route that connects over 30 towns in Alaska. Capital Transit buses operate to the terminal and other locations along the highway; Lemon Creek has a station on the west side of town.
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 neighborhood?
Reach out to
Gina Pelaia,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Wetlands
Transit
Airport
Juneau International
20 min drive
Bus
Glacier HWY And Tonsgard Court (Anka Street)
Bus
Glacier HWY And Short Street (Western Auto)
Bus
Glacier HWY Opposite Davis Avenue
Bus
Lemon Creek Road And Lemon Creek Road (Lemon Creek Turnaround)
Bus
Lemon Creek Road And Churchill Road
Bus
Davis Avenue And Mountain Avenue
Bus
Glacier HWY And Davis Avenue
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Lemon Creek
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lemon Creek, Juneau sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Lemon Creek, Juneau over the last 12 months is $120,000, down 54% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Charming updated Creekside Park Mobile Home!This 3 Bedroom/2 Bathroom home offers 924 square feet of living space. The kitchen has been updated with dark wood cabinetry, solid surface counter tops, and a stainless steel oven. Laminate wood look flooring was installed through the kitchen and living room. The primary bedroom has an ensuite bathroom. The second bathroom has been updated with
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Gina Pelaia,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,064
Median Age
38
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$72,030
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$76,894
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.8%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
23.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
12.5%
% Population in Labor Force
61.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
67''
Average Winter Low Temperature
24°F
Average Summer High Temperature
64°F
Annual Snowfall
84''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
34/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
31/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
35/ 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.
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.
