Pros and Cons of Living in Haines
Haines's core trade-off pairs a rare Southeast Alaska road connection and genuine affordability against a real, disclosed population decline and documented landslide risk.
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Learn morePro: a real, rare road connection
The Haines Highway gives Haines a genuine road connection to the Alaska Highway system -- a rare advantage among Southeast Alaska communities, even though the route runs through Canada.
Pro: genuine affordability and a low property tax rate
Haines's $325,409 median home value and 0.49% property tax rate both run genuinely below Alaska's own statewide figures.
Con: a real, disclosed, ongoing population decline
Haines's population ran 1,757 at the 2020 Census, down to an estimated 1,571-1,615 by 2026 -- a real factor for movers weighing long-term community trajectory.
Con: a real, documented, severe landslide risk
A December 2020 landslide killed two people in Haines, part of a documented, recurring Southeast Alaska hazard pattern -- a real, disclosed risk this record does not minimize.
Key takeaways
- Pro: a real, rare Southeast Alaska road connection via the Haines Highway.
- Pro: genuine housing affordability and a genuinely low property tax rate.
- Con: a real, disclosed, ongoing population decline from 2020 to 2026.
- Con: a real, documented, severe landslide risk (two deaths, December 2020).
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