Anchorage, Alaska
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Anchorage.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Anchorage?
Anchorage planning snapshot: population 289,600, housing index 116 (above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $375,900, median rent $1,453, and income near $98,152. Expect 67°F summer highs, 11°F winter lows, and about 20-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 1244.6 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 116U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $375,900U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,453U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $98,152U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 20 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 1244.6per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 67°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Anchorage compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 289,600City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $98,152Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year25% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 116ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year16% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $375,900City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year24% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,453City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year8% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3131% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 1244.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)112% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 4261.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)38% above U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 67°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals20.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 11°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals23.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 14.2 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals57% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 256As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (268)U.S. 268
Population trend
Anchorage declined 1.3% from 293,321 in 2010 to 289,600 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Anchorage expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Anchorage's housing cost index is 116 versus 100 nationally — above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($375,900 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,453 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 116 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $375,900 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,453 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Anchorage?
Typical ownership costs center near $375,900, while median gross rent is about $1,453 a month. Against a median household income of $98,152, rent alone is roughly 18% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $375,900
- Median rent $1,453/month
- Median household income $98,152
What is the job market like in Anchorage?
County unemployment recently ran 3.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Anchorage is about $98,152 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $98,152
How long is the typical commute in Anchorage?
Average one-way commute time is about 20 minutes, with Walk Score near 31/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 20 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 31/100
Is Anchorage safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 1244.6 per 100k and property about 4261.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 1244.6 per 100k
- Property 4261.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Anchorage?
Normals show summer highs near 67°F, winter lows near 11°F, about 14.2 inches of rain, and roughly 256 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 67°F
- Winter low 11°F
- 14.2 in rain · 256 sunny days
Long summer daylight and long winter nights are part of the relocation calculus. Winter lows around 11°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Average one-way commute time is about 20 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 31/100. Labor-market readings near 3.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. FBI CDE violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~1244.6 per 100k annualized), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
Anchorage (pop. 289,600) sits in Alaska. With median income around $98,152 and a cost index of 116, the market reads above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $375,900 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Anchorage is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Anchorage with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Anchorage municipality, 1600000US0203000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Anchorage Municipality, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00026409 ANCHORAGE MERRILL FLD) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10