Alaska
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 55% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 0% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 43% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade D, better than 22% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 12% of US states
- top 1% for income tax
- top 1% for air quality
- bottom 1% for sunny days
Alaska is a U.S. state with about 735,000 residents. It grades B for affordability and F for weather. Standout strengths include income tax, air quality, and estimated total tax burden. It rates lower on violent crime and sunny days.
Official websitealaska.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Alaska is $312k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Alaska is $87k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Alaska is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Alaska has a violent crime rate of 2225/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Alaska is 21 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$87k76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$57kbetter than 28% of US states
Home Value$312k63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 29% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$36kbetter than 82% of US states
Property Tax Rate1.11%better than 35% of US states
Income Tax0.00%better than 100% of US states
Sales Tax1.82%better than 92% of US states
Estimated total tax burden4.49%better than 98% of US states
Unemployment6.5%better than 10% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)13°F2nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)59°F0th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation29.7 in22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall76.6 inbetter than 4% of US states
Sunny Days154 daysbetter than 0% of US states
Summer Humidity50°Fbetter than 86% of US states
Comfortable Days41 daysbetter than 4% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk78.8better than 57% of US states
Air Quality22 AQIbetter than 100% of US states
School Quality74.3better than 66% of US states
Violent Crime2225/100kbetter than 2% of US states
Property Crime2432/100kbetter than 14% of US states
Community
Population734,8216th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age35.46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5173rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.12100th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)58.4%29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)3.0%24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.5%37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)6.3%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)24.8%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time21 minbetter than 86% of US states
Walkability7.7/20better than 27% of US states
Airport Distance205 mibetter than 10% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.9%better than 65% of US states
Amenities Nearby0.18better than 4% of US states
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 12% of US states
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)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Alaska an affordable place to live?
- Alaska is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $57k, better than 28% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Alaska safe?
- Alaska is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2225/100k (better than 2%). Property crime is 2432/100k.
- What is the weather like in Alaska?
- Alaska averages 59°F in July and 13°F in January, with 29.7 in of annual precipitation and about 154 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Alaska?
- Public-school quality in Alaska is above average, scoring better than 66% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Alaska?
- The average one-way commute in Alaska is 21 min.