Lemon Creek
$463,559
Average Value
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Carter Rogers
Video By
Mary Desmond
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Debbie White
Debbie White
Southeast Alaska Real Estate
(888) 983-3204
69 Total Sales
6 in Lemon Creek
$112K - $411K Price Range
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Angie Nolan
Angie Nolan
Alaska Unlimited Realty
(844) 967-0700
16 Total Sales
1 in Lemon Creek
$459,900 Price
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Karen Wright
Karen Wright
Southeast Alaska Real Estate
(888) 606-4776
31 Total Sales
1 in Lemon Creek
$565,000 Price
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Jocelyn Miles
JM
Jocelyn Miles
Southeast Alaska Real Estate
(844) 708-4186
22 Total Sales
4 in Lemon Creek
$34K - $565K Price Range
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Lawton Knight III
LK
Lawton Knight III
Southeast Alaska Real Estate
(888) 372-3393
22 Total Sales
4 in Lemon Creek
$74K - $460K Price Range
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Josh Garnick
JG
Josh Garnick
Southeast Alaska Real Estate
(855) 918-4560
43 Total Sales
3 in Lemon Creek
$47K - $120K Price Range
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Wetlands
Transit
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
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
253
Median Year Built
1977
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,542
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,675
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,102
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
12,196
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Salmon Creek
Waterside community in Southeast Alaska, close to Juneau shopping hubs
Mendenhall Valley
Juneau’s most populated neighborhood, home of the Mendenhall Glacier
North Douglas
Secluded community in Douglas Island wilderness, close to trails
West Juneau
Island community with mountain and channel views, walkable to Juneau
Back Loop
Secluded community north of Mendenhall Valley, close to recreation areas
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