Anchorage, Alaska
Among the top 1% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 31% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 0% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 17% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 99% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 71% of US places
- top 1% for airport distance
- top 2% for walkability
- bottom 1% for annual snowfall
Anchorage is a major city in Alaska with about 291,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and F for weather. Standout strengths include airport distance, walkability, and air quality. It rates lower on sunny days and annual snowfall.
Official websitemuni.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Mild summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cold
cool
comfortable
cool
v.cold
freezing
49%33%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.5 in2.5 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$96k83rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$55kbetter than 20% of US places
Home Value$364k83rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 19% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 13% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.31%better than 34% of US places
Income Tax0.00%better than 92% of US places
Sales Tax1.82%better than 96% of US places
Estimated total tax burden5.57%better than 91% of US places
Unemployment5.2%better than 38% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)16°F7th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)61°F1st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation47.0 in67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall161.9 inbetter than 1% of US places
Sunny Days149 daysbetter than 1% of US places
Summer Humidity50°Fbetter than 90% of US places
Comfortable Days51 daysbetter than 10% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk97.2better than 2% of US places
Air Quality20 AQIbetter than 97% of US places
School Quality68.5better than 64% of US places
Violent Crime2619/100kbetter than 4% of US places
Property Crime2764/100kbetter than 9% of US places
Community
Population290,674100th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age34.520th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.6194th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0566th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)55.2%20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.1%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)9.7%72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)9.6%95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)20.4%94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time19 minbetter than 89% of US places
Walkability14.5/20better than 98% of US places
Airport Distance4 mibetter than 99% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access93.6%better than 78% of US places
Amenities Nearby13.93better than 17% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 90% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Anchorage an affordable place to live?
- Anchorage is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $55k, better than 20% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Anchorage?
- The median home value in Anchorage is $364k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Anchorage?
- Median household income in Anchorage is $96k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Anchorage?
- Median gross rent in Anchorage is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Anchorage safe?
- Anchorage is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2619/100k (better than 4%). Property crime is 2764/100k.
- What is the weather like in Anchorage?
- Anchorage averages 61°F in July and 16°F in January, with 47.0 in of annual precipitation and about 149 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Anchorage?
- Public-school quality in Anchorage is above average, scoring better than 64% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Anchorage?
- The average one-way commute in Anchorage is 19 min.
Places near Anchorage
Compare Anchorage
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)