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Living in
Anchorage.
About
Life in Anchorage
If you're considering a move here, understand that you're signing up for a sprawling city of nearly 290,000 that punches well above its weight economically—but demands serious respect for its climate and geography. The economy is stable and diverse, anchored by transportation, government, military, and resource extraction, which means job prospects are reasonable with a 3.8% unemployment rate and a median household income around $103,000. However, housing costs reflect that stability: expect to pay $396,000+ for a home or $1,489 monthly for rent, which is substantial for Alaska.
Anchorage at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Foreign-Born
10.9%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.9% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Anchorage: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Anchorage, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (28.5%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.5%
of households
Married Couples
46.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.59
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for AK
Rent, home values, and income in Anchorage
In Anchorage, home values are 12% above the AK average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,982
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $422,584 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below AK average
Unemployment in Anchorage and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Anchorage is 0.8 percentage points lower than the AK average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Anchorage Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Anchorage, AK metro area
Commute18.8 min avg
How Anchorage residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Anchorage, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Merrill Field (MRI)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 4 mi
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Medium hub2.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 212% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Anchorage runs 212% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,026.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,334.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Anchorage Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 3 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Anchorage County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Anchorage Municipality, which includes Anchorage, the most common type is high wind, with 3 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 1 | Flood | $250,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
502 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Anchorage Municipality, county-wide
Air Quality26 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Anchorage Municipality, which includes Anchorage, is typically good — 289 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
26
Good Days
289
per year
Moderate Days
75
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Anchorage Municipality, county-wide
Climate66°F summers, 9°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Anchorage has cool summers (avg high 66°F) and very cold winters (avg low 9°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
47°/26°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
66°/46°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
42°/25°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
24°/9°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.6"
Annual Snowfall
59.3"
Hot Days/Year
0
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
204
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
80
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°F | 6°F | 2.26" |
| Feb | 28°F | 12°F | 1.64" |
| Mar | 35°F | 15°F | 1.56" |
| Apr | 47°F | 27°F | 0.76" |
| May | 58°F | 36°F | 0.94" |
| Jun | 65°F | 44°F | 1.31" |
| Jul | 67°F | 48°F | 1.68" |
| Aug | 65°F | 45°F | 2.62" |
| Sep | 56°F | 37°F | 3.64" |
| Oct | 42°F | 26°F | 2.46" |
| Nov | 26°F | 13°F | 1.72" |
| Dec | 23°F | 9°F | 1.96" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Anchorage
Anchorage has 6 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
9.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Alaska Native Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Alaska Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
673rd Medical Group (joint Base Elmendorf-richardson)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Anchorage
Anchorage's student/teacher ratio is 18.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 38.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
96
within city limits
Private Schools
13
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Anchorage
University of Alaska Anchorage
Public · 4-year · 7,212 students · in-state tuition $7,966 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,994 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 457 students · in-state tuition $20,760 · 49% graduate · median earnings $51,046 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Alaska Public Lands, 24 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Anchorage
Anchorage has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Alaska Public Lands (24 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Alaska Public Lands
National Park Site
24 mi awayKenai Fjords National Park
National Park
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Anchorage
Z. J. Loussac Library
3600 Denali Street, Anchorage
Chugiak-Eagle River Library
12001 Business Boulevard #176, Eagle River
Mountain View Library
120 South Bragaw Street, Anchorage
Muldoon Library
1251 Muldoon Road, Suite 158, Anchorage
Scott And Wesley Gerrish Library
250 Egloff Drive, Girdwood
Cities Near Anchorage
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Anchorage?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Anchorage FAQ
Is Anchorage, Alaska affordable?⌄
Anchorage's median rent is $1,489/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $103,284/year. Median home value is $395,900.
Is Anchorage, Alaska safe?⌄
Anchorage's violent crime rate was 1027 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3335 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Anchorage, Alaska?⌄
Anchorage has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Anchorage, Alaska?⌄
The cost of living in Anchorage is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,489/month and median household income is $103,284/year. The median home value is $395,900. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Anchorage, Alaska?⌄
The average commute in Anchorage is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from