Living in Anchorage, AK
Mid-size city in Alaska
Anchorage is a mid-size city in Alaska, home to about 289,000 people, with 324,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Anchorage a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Mild summers: highs around 66°F
- Easy flying: ANC is 7 mi away
- Great outdoors: hills or mountains nearby
- Low taxes: no state income tax, 1.29% property tax
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 324,000 people live within 31 mi
- Higher crime: violent crime is 3.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Anchorage ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Anchorage: common questions
What is the cost of living in Anchorage?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $417k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,270 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 105, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Anchorage?
Alaska has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 1.29% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Anchorage safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (3.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Anchorage?
Anchorage has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 23°F and summer days around 66°F, with roughly 59″ of snow a year.
Does Anchorage get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes: 2 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 3.24 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Anchorage?
The nearest major airport is ANC, about 7 mi away.
How Anchorage scores
Each bar compares Anchorage with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Anchorage right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.