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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Ester, AK Housing Affordability Index

Ester, Alaska has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 92.0 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 146th most affordable of 158 scored Alaska cities, compared with 98.5 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $255,400 home with 20% down, the Alaska average 30-year fixed rate of 7.24% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,393, or 31% of the city’s $53,272 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Ester is updated every night from live Alaska mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Ester MBR-HAI 92.0 Near National Average
Rank in Alaska 146 of 158 1 = most affordable
Alaska 98.5 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.24% Alaska lenders
Median home value $255,400 U.S. Census Bureau

Ester is 6.4 points below the Alaska score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Alaska index

View Ester Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Ester

$1,393/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.24%
$59,700
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$53,272
Median Household Income
Alaska: $92,788
4.8x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Alaska: 3.8x
$969/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$3,094/yr
Median Property Tax
1.21% of median value
16.4%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
37.7%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Ester, Alaska. The rate is the Alaska average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Ester Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Ester, Alaska score: 92.0 (Near National Average), ranked 146 of 158 Alaska cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/alaska/ester”