Zip code 99686: Valdez, Alaska

Q: What city is zip code 99686?

99686 is assigned to Valdez, Alaska. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 99686 in?

99686 is in Chugach Census Area, Alaska.

Q: What is the population of 99686?

About 3,862 people live in 99686, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 99686?

The median household income in 99686 is $99,349.

Q: What zip codes are near 99686?

The closest zip codes to 99686 are 99677, 99573, 99574, 99693, 99674.

Residential delivery areaChugach Census AreaAlaska Time

Population

3,862

Median household income

$99K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$312K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,481/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

38.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

1,363 sq mi

3 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 99686

99686 is a rural zip code in Valdez, Alaska (Chugach Census Area), covering 1,363 sq mi of land. About 3,862 people live here, or 3 per square mile. The median resident is 38.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $99,349 a year, 23% above the national median of $80,734. 5.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $312,200, or 3.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 65% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,481 a month.

32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 10.6 minutes each way, and 4% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and office and administrative support.

How 99686 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Broadband access98.3%
98th
StrengthU.S. 91% · AK 91.9%6th of 184 in AK
Government workers29.5%
98th
U.S. 14.5% · AK 25.9%127th of 187 in AK
Unemployment rate10.2%
94th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · AK 5.9%83rd of 187 in AK
Housing vacancy19.1%
92nd
U.S. 10.1% · AK 17.6%99th of 185 in AK
Median earnings per worker$71,988
88th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · AK $54,97514th of 186 in AK
Uninsured rate12.1%
80th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · AK 11%104th of 187 in AK
Veterans7.9%
76th
U.S. 6.2% · AK 10.7%81st of 187 in AK
Per capita income$51,660
75th
U.S. $44,673 · AK $46,57326th of 187 in AK
Median household income$99,349
71st
U.S. $80,734 · AK $92,78829th of 176 in AK
Median gross rent$1,481
55th
U.S. $1,413 · AK $1,41924th of 142 in AK
Bachelor's degree or higher31.9%
50th
U.S. 35.7% · AK 31.7%29th of 187 in AK
Residents under 1821.8%
47th
U.S. 22% · AK 24.1%126th of 187 in AK
Median home value$312,200
46th
U.S. $332,700 · AK $352,90042nd of 163 in AK
Median age38.5
46th
U.S. 38.9 · AK 35.868th of 187 in AK
Homeownership rate65.4%
42nd
U.S. 65.2% · AK 66.8%114th of 184 in AK
Diversity index42.6
40th
U.S. 61.4 · AK 62.881st of 187 in AK
Self-employed workers8.3%
37th
U.S. 10% · AK 9.9%77th of 187 in AK
Foreign-born residents2.9%
18th
U.S. 14.1% · AK 7.7%70th of 187 in AK
Poverty rate5.8%
17th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · AK 10.1%160th of 187 in AK
Income inequality (Gini)0.380
10th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · AK 0.433134th of 184 in AK
Residents 65 and older10%
8th
U.S. 17.2% · AK 13.8%119th of 187 in AK
Rent-burdened renters32.9%
7th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · AK 44.6%91st of 174 in AK
Population3,862
6th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AK 735,70637th of 187 in AK
Healthcare workers5.7%
6th
U.S. 9.7% · AK 10%80th of 187 in AK
Tech workers0.2%
4th
U.S. 3.8% · AK 2.1%68th of 187 in AK
Work from home3.5%
3rd
U.S. 15.1% · AK 9.7%130th of 187 in AK
Population density3/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · AK 1/sq mi135th of 187 in AK
Average commute10.6 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · AK 19.4 min76th of 184 in AK

Measure	99686	Chugach	AK	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AK
Broadband accessStrength	98.3%	96.9%	91.9%	91%	98th	6th of 184
Government workers	29.5%	30.6%	25.9%	14.5%	98th	127th of 187
Unemployment rateWeakness	10.2%	9.5%	5.9%	5.2%	94th	83rd of 187
Housing vacancy	19.1%	27.1%	17.6%	10.1%	92nd	99th of 185
Median earnings per workerStrength	$71,988	$64,643	$54,975	$49,666	88th	14th of 186
Uninsured rateWeakness	12.1%	11.4%	11%	8.4%	80th	104th of 187
Veterans	7.9%	8.6%	10.7%	6.2%	76th	81st of 187
Per capita income	$51,660	$47,365	$46,573	$44,673	75th	26th of 187
Median household income	$99,349	$90,509	$92,788	$80,734	71st	29th of 176
Median gross rent	$1,481	$1,369	$1,419	$1,413	55th	24th of 142
Bachelor's degree or higher	31.9%	31.4%	31.7%	35.7%	50th	29th of 187
Residents under 18	21.8%	20.9%	24.1%	22%	47th	126th of 187
Median home value	$312,200	$346,200	$352,900	$332,700	46th	42nd of 163
Median age	38.5	37.9	35.8	38.9	46th	68th of 187
Homeownership rate	65.4%	63.8%	66.8%	65.2%	42nd	114th of 184
Diversity index	42.6	48.3	62.8	61.4	40th	81st of 187
Self-employed workers	8.3%	10.6%	9.9%	10%	37th	77th of 187
Foreign-born residents	2.9%	5.8%	7.7%	14.1%	18th	70th of 187
Poverty rateStrength	5.8%	5.9%	10.1%	12.5%	17th	160th of 187
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.380	0.382	0.433	0.483	10th	134th of 184
Residents 65 and older	10%	13.9%	13.8%	17.2%	8th	119th of 187
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	32.9%	36.3%	44.6%	51.1%	7th	91st of 174
Population	3,862	6,862	735,706	334,922,499	6th	37th of 187
Healthcare workers	5.7%	5.4%	10%	9.7%	6th	80th of 187
Tech workers	0.2%	0.5%	2.1%	3.8%	4th	68th of 187
Work from home	3.5%	4.2%	9.7%	15.1%	3rd	130th of 187
Population density	3/sq mi	1/sq mi	1/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	135th of 187
Average commuteStrength	10.6 min	9.2 min	19.4 min	26.4 min	1st	76th of 184

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

17%

5–17

18–24

16%

25–34

19%

35–44

13%

45–54

13%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

38.5

Under 18

21.8%

65 and over

10%

Race and ethnicity

White74%
Black3%
Hispanic4%
Asian0.4%
Native American4%
Pacific Islander0.6%
Other1%
Multiracial12%

Diversity index

42.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

37.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

88%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,679
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 62.4%
Married couples: 50.2%
Living alone: 30.6%
Veterans (of adults): 7.9%
Male / female: 56% / 44%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

12%

$50–75k

12%

$75–100k

18%

$100–150k

22%

$150–200k

12%

$200k+

15%

Median household income

99686

$99,349

Chugach

$90,509

Alaska

$92,788

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$51,660

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

5.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

27%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.380

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

99686

$312,200

Chugach

$346,200

Alaska

$352,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

99686

$1,481

Chugach

$1,369

Alaska

$1,419

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

57%

2–4 units

11%

5–19 units

20+ units

0.7%

Mobile home

27%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,075
Owner-occupied: 65.4%
Vacant: 19.1%
Median year built: 1980
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 32.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 11.4%
Home value to income: 3.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

75%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

10%

Bicycle

0.5%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

56%

10–19

28%

20–29

11%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

10.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

10.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

72.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

29%

Construction and repair

13%

Office and admin

Transportation and moving

Education

Healthcare

Production

Sales

Food service

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

0.9%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Business and finance

0.7%

Computer and math

0.2%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

18%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

13%

Education

10%

Public administration

10%

Agriculture and mining

Construction

Retail

Admin, support and management

Other services

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Information

0.9%

Median earnings per worker

$71,988

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

29.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

21.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	99686	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$86,434	$74,888
Service	$44,583	$26,804
Sales and office	$33,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$77,179	$49,199
Production and transportation	$83,864	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

26%

Some college

24%

Associate's

14%

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

14%

High school graduate or higher: 96.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 14.3%
Households with broadband: 98.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 87.3%
No internet access: 1.7%
Without health insurance: 12.1%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Valdez
State: Alaska
County: Chugach Census Area
Center point: 61.0459° N, 146.1833° W
Land area: 1,363 sq mi
Water area: 60 sq mi
Time zone: Alaska Time (UTC-9, UTC-8 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Valdez16% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 99686

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
99677	Tatitlek, AK	19 mi	20	$49,063	—
99573	Copper Center, AK	40 mi	941	$78,558	$298,300
99574	Cordova, AK	48 mi	2,551	$85,132	$418,400
99693	Whittier, AK	64 mi	429	$59,688	$83,800
99674	Sutton, AK	73 mi	1,774	$63,688	$233,800
99587	Girdwood, AK	90 mi	1,949	$163,704	$630,200
99645	Palmer, AK	101 mi	32,103	$100,455	$367,400
99588	Glennallen, AK	116 mi	1,037	$110,136	$290,600
99586	Gakona, AK	130 mi	420	—	$309,600
99729	Cantwell, AK	163 mi	128	$43,438	$256,300
99737	Delta Junction, AK	168 mi	4,774	$83,107	$312,600
99731	Fort Greely, AK · PO box	201 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 99686 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 99686

What city is zip code 99686?

99686 is assigned to Valdez, Alaska. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 99686 in?

99686 is in Chugach Census Area, Alaska.

What is the population of 99686?

About 3,862 people live in 99686, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 99686 in?

99686 is in Alaska Time.

What is the median household income in 99686?

The median household income in 99686 is $99,349.

What zip codes are near 99686?

The closest zip codes to 99686 are 99677, 99573, 99574, 99693, 99674.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 99686, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.