| Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska. If you | | | | Home of one the most notable Alaskan gold |
| are considering relocating to Fairbanks, the following | | | | expeditions, more than $200 million in gold has been |
| facts and information can help with the decision. | | | | extracted from the mining district. There are still gold |
| The northernmost city in the U.S. at the Interior of | | | | mines in operation today. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline |
| Alaska, Fairbanks is just 125 miles south of the Arctic | | | | annually produces 20 percent of the nation's oil |
| Circle. It's estimated 31,324 people live in the city. | | | | production. The military has also played a significant |
| When you include the Fairbanks North Star Borough, | | | | role in Fairbanks' development with an economic |
| 82,840 people inhabit the area. About 17,000 military | | | | impact of $350 million annually. Since World War II, |
| personnel make up 20 percent of the borough | | | | airfields, roads and communication systems were |
| population. The University of Alaska Fairbanks alone | | | | constructed. |
| accounts for 10,400 students each year. Population | | | | Tourism is heating up in one of the coldest North |
| growth has steadily risen since the 1960s. The | | | | American cities. Each summer, roughly 325,000 |
| discovery of oil and construction of the Alaskan | | | | visitors find their way to Fairbanks. The historic city |
| pipeline have been the primary reason. U.S. Census | | | | has managed to keep much of its frontier charm. |
| statistics show that in the two decades since 1960 | | | | Mining camps, swinging-door saloons and unpaved |
| the total number of residents grew 31.4%. But from | | | | roads can still be found amid an ever evolving |
| 1980 to 2000 it had more than doubled. White | | | | landscape. Competitive sled dog racing is just one of |
| non-hispanic residents account for 74.4% of the | | | | many outdoor activities that favor tourism and have |
| population, 7.8% are native American, 5.5% hispanic | | | | people relocating to Fairbanks. The most common |
| and 5.3% black. At 31, the average age per resident | | | | approach for travelers to the city is through |
| is more than five years below the state. | | | | Fairbanks International Airport. The Alaska Highway |
| When determining if you should be relocating to | | | | also connects the area to the lower 48 states, while |
| Fairbanks, cost should be an issue. Fairbanks' cost of | | | | the Alaska Railroad makes Fairbanks its northernmost |
| living could be considered high when compared with | | | | destination. |
| the national average. However, it is lower than most | | | | If you are considering relocating to Fairbanks, there |
| other Alaskan communities and compares favorably | | | | are issues related to daylight and weather you need |
| with many other North American cities. Residents | | | | to contemplate. Fairbanks is one of only a few |
| enjoy a very low tax burden with no state, local or | | | | communities in the world that has a concentration of |
| sales taxes. According to estimates in 2005, home | | | | people living so far north. They experience long days |
| values on average had risen to $171,700 for an | | | | in summer, dark winters and significant changes in |
| owner-occupied dwelling. Prices can vary greatly. A | | | | weather. In June and July, Fairbanks can get |
| three-bedroom home is estimated to cost $1,400 per | | | | anywhere from 18 to 20 hours of sunlight daily. |
| month to lease. The median rent paid by residents is | | | | Temperatures can reach the high 80s. Daylight |
| $789 monthly. A lot of the housing in the area is | | | | dwindles to four hours during the winter. |
| relatively new or updated. After a massive flood in | | | | Temperatures will drop drastically to as low as 60 |
| 1967, 95% of homes and businesses in Fairbanks | | | | degrees below zero. Average temperatures in |
| were under eight feet of water. Federal funding | | | | January are 10.2 below and 55.4 in August. And it |
| more than compensated to help rebuild or replace the | | | | wouldn't be Alaska without snow. Annually, about 68 |
| damaged structures. | | | | inches of the white stuff falls each year. |