2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Fairbanks, AK vs Lead, SD

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Highlights
- Household income in Lead, is 35% less than it is in Fairbanks and is 60% below the National Average.
- Fairbanks unemployment rate is 7.2%.
- Lead unemployment rate is 3.0%.
 Fairbanks, AKLead, SDUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.0%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.5%1.6%
 Future Job Growth16.8%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes0.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock0.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$33,194  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$43,125$69,021
 Family Median Income$73,539  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Fairbanks, AKLead, SDUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock15.2%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.5%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock12.3%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K10.2%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock4.2%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K9.3%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock12.9%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K13.4%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock14.9%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K6.4%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock0.0%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Fairbanks, AKLead, SDUnited States
 Management, business, finance11.9%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock3.3%6.5%
 Community, social services3.5%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.0%1.2%
 Education, library4.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock6.0%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.6%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock0.0%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement2.6%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock4.0%5.4%
 Building maintenance4.3%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock8.9%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support23.4%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair8.1%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock7.8%13.1%
Reviews for Fairbanks    20 Reviews

I have lived in the Fairbanks area for about 25 years and have become very comfortable with the community and the lifestyle here. That said, retirement is fast  More

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Over 14 years ago

Comments about Fairbanks, both positive and negative, are of interest to me. Was in Fairbanks this past March [and north on Cleary Summit] and fell in love with the  More

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Over 15 years ago

I came to Alaska 15 years ago on an adventure and first lived in Juneau, which I LOVED and then moved to Eagle River, which I loved and now live in Fairbanks! I do not  More

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Reviews for Lead    1 Reviews

Over 7 years ago

Ok, this was a favorite place of mine too. Little Lead, SD - what a gem! I had an apartment here so was able to find good housing. I was still having "church  More

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