Countryside community in a rapidly growing part of Alaska
On the southern end of the fastest-growing borough in Alaska, Knik-Fairview is a rural community where buyers can still find solitude. “You’re close to town, but you have a little more space than if you were right in town,” says Andrea Roehl, a Realtor with Jack White Real Estate who has sold homes in the community. “There’s recreation out there like trails, cross-country skiing and snowmachining. There’s all kinds of things that it offers.” This census-designated place is home to approximately 19,000 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Its surrounding borough, Matanuska-Susitna, has a population of around 115,000, according to 2023 Census estimates, and is rapidly growing as homebuyers seek out a small-town lifestyle. Despite that growth, Knik-Fairview still has plenty of large lots and a rural feel due to its vast swaths of undeveloped land and natural areas. Just 50 miles from Anchorage, this community offers countryside living within commuting distance of Alaska’s largest city.
Privacy is top of mind for Knik-Fairview buyers
Homes in Knik-Fairview offer plenty of privacy, even with the suburban neighborhoods featuring spacious lots and tall trees shielding the homes from view. Many parts of the community are made up of gravel roads lined with mature pine trees, giving the area the feeling of the Alaskan wilderness. Buyers can find homes on lots as small as a quarter-acre or as large as 5 acres. Housing styles include cabins, new traditional, Craftsman and ranch-style homes. The median price is around $380,000, up 8% over the past year. “Prices have gone up consistently over the last couple of years. A lot of new neighborhoods have been developed. It’s a good mix of new builds and older homes in established neighborhoods,” Roehl says. Knik-Fairview’s median price is slightly lower than that of the nearby city of Wasilla.
Exploring the last frontier in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley
Knik-Fairview has plenty of outdoor recreation options. The Palmer Hay Flats is a 20,000-acre game reserve made up of wetlands on the coast of the Knik Arm. This area used to be farms and pastures, but an earthquake in 1964 caused the ground to sink and become wetlands. Visitors can hike on multiple trails and enjoy views of the Chugach Mountains while looking for wildlife. Hunting and fishing are also popular at this site. Settlers Bay Coastal Park is relatively new in the borough, with nearly 300 acres of hiking and biking trails through wooded areas. The nearby Settlers Bay Golf Course, founded in 1977, is the oldest continuously operating course in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The par-71 course is known for its 18th hole, which is considered the most challenging golf hole in the state. Redington High School has miles of trails surrounding the building, open to the public for running in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Honoring Knik-Fairview's storied history
The original route of the Iditarod dog sled race passed through Knik-Fairview, and residents can learn about the race’s history at the Knik Museum and Mushers Hall of Fame. This small museum has been around since 1967 and educates visitors on the region’s heritage as a trade center for Native Americans and its dog sledding culture. Part of the Iditarod National Historic Trail passes through the area and is open for hiking.
Limited local businesses in rural Alaska
There is very little shopping and dining in Knik-Fairview. Businesses along Knik Goose Bay Road include Settlers Bay Lodge, a steakhouse known for its mountain views and hearty portions. Three Bears Alaska is a local grocery store that also sells sporting goods and hunting equipment. Nearby Wasilla has more options, including local breweries, Chinese restaurants and fast-food chains. It also has more grocery stores and national retailers like Target, Michaels and Home Depot.
Highly rated Mat-Su schools
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District gets a B-plus rating from Niche and is ranked as the 10th-best district in the state. The school system spans approximately 25,000 square miles and serves nearly 20,000 students. It offers a variety of career and technical education programs, including accounting, engineering, veterinary and welding.
Commuting around the Matanuska-Susitna Valley
Because of its rural nature, Knik-Fairview is a car-dependent community. Knik Goose Bay Road is the main thoroughfare in the area, leading northeast to Parks Highway. Residents have about an 8-mile drive to Wasilla and are about 50 miles from Anchorage. Commuters who work in Anchorage can ride the Valley Transit commuter bus, which stops at multiple Park & Ride lots along Parks Highway and runs several times throughout the day. The closest hospital is Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, about 15 miles away.
Increasing wildfire risk in Knik-Fairview
Knik-Fairview has average high temperatures of 25 degrees in January and 68 degrees in July. It snows about 60 inches each year between September and May. The wildfire risk throughout the Matanuska-Susitna Borough has increased recently, thanks to the growing population and buildings in the area. Other factors include climate changes that have led to warmer, drier summers. Because of this increased risk, the borough has implemented a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Knik-Fairview is a census-designated place, so it does not have its own police force, making crime rates not readily available.
As a lifelong Anchorage resident - this is my home, my favorite place to be! Real Estate is my passion and I do it full time. Growing up in this beautiful part of our great country, I learned to love and respect the great outdoors. My constant companion is my dog, Leo, and in my spare time we like to do cross country hikes together. As I've lived here all my life, I have a lot of friends (some were customers first and now I'm proud to call them my friends).
Personal Service
Whatever I have done in my life I have done it with regards to serving others at the highest level. Whether it be delivering newspapers as a ten-year-old on cold and windy winter mornings at 5:00am, riding my bike to and from a busy restaurant as a teenager to purchase a 1966 Ford Mustang as a first car, or taking a degree in history to be a high school teacher and then returning again to college to take a professional degree in social work in order to serve others in some of the most challenging of circumstances, I have always strived to work extremely hard, pour my heart and soul into everything I do, and above all genuinely care about doing an excellent job through and through in any endeavor.
Real Estate is my Passion
I have been fascinated by real estate as far back as I can remember. I have a lot to bring to the table and would very much appreciate and look forward to assisting you with all of your real estate needs.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
