Moving to Anchorage, AK

Anchorage At-A-Glance

Here’s a fun fact: nearly 40 percent of Alaska’s residents call Anchorage their home. When you consider just how big Alaska is, that may seem like a lot. But in reality, moving to Anchorage means you’ll be close neighbors with just under 300,000 folks who somehow manage to make this urban center feel like a relaxed, small town.

You’ll also find yourself enjoying lots of fresh (and often cold) air. While the city has its share of high-rises, it also boasts amazing natural beauty. Mountains, fjords, glaciers, bays and islands provide numerous opportunities for outdoor fun and create a happy habitat for plenty of wildlife. (In fact, it’s not uncommon to spot a moose trotting down the sidewalk.)

Excited about moving to Anchorage? Keep reading for more about this gorgeous metro.

Anchorage May Be Cold, But You’ll Want to Be Outdoors

Outdoor activities are a way of life in Anchorage. From fishing, snowshoeing, kayaking and wildlife-seeing excursions, residents are out celebrating the city’s integration with nature. Hiking is huge, with the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail being a favorite spot. Or you may want to head over to the nearby Alyeska Resort for skiing and snowboarding.

Festivals abound with the Slam’n Salm’n Derby anglers contest, the Fur Rendezvous Festival (or Fur Rondy) and the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering. But one you’ll definitely want to check out is Anchorage First Fridays, when art galleries and restaurants stay open late to give you a chance to get out and meet local artists.

Not convinced that you’ll be out in the cold? No worries. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts hosts everything from dance, live music, opera and Broadway musicals. There are also a number of museums celebrating history, art and science, including the Anchorage Museum, the Alaska Museum of Science and Nature and the Alaska Aviation Museum.

Anchorage Anticipates Continued Job Growth

If you have your heart set on living in Alaska, Anchorage is the place to be. Although the unemployment rate was 4.0 percent at the end of 2023, the market here continues to thrive compared to the rest of the state, with residents having a higher income expectancy than other Alaskan towns as well.

Between big projects taking place in the state and greater investment in public infrastructure, there are good things happening throughout the region. Economic sectors that are expected to see especially strong job growth are transportation, oil and gas, tourism and potentially construction.

While government positions make up a large percentage of the job market in Anchorage, some of the top private employers include healthcare providers such as Providence Alaska and Southcentral Foundation, NANA Regional Corporation and Trident Seafoods.

Living Off the Beaten Path Can Be Expensive

Here’s something to look forward to: the median household income in Anchorage is $95,731 (a chunky $20,000 higher than the national numbers). Along with that higher income comes a higher cost of living—no sales tax, though!

You may not have suspected Alaska to be one of the country’s costlier states, but it’s just behind New York, California and Massachusetts. While stunning and full of natural beauty, living in Anchorage means having fewer service providers available, and that lack of competition has led to housing, food, goods and healthcare costs coming in above national averages. (You’ll save on just about everything compared to other cities in the state, though!)

While housing prices have flatlined after seeing an uptick during the pandemic, the Anchorage market remains very competitive. The median home sale price was $360,000 at the start of 2024. Still, buying may be the way to go in Anchorage (or anywhere in Alaska). With the cost of inflation, rent growth here has been well above the national average, rising 7.4 percent in the past year.

As of March 2024, you could rent a one-bedroom apartment for about $1,157, or a two-bedroom for around $1,581.

Enjoy Natural Beauty Alongside Big City Living

Just about every neighborhood in Anchorage offers trails and parks to enjoy the great outdoors. But for those who are also looking to keep one foot in the action, there are neighborhoods with nightlife, cultural fun and lively restaurants and bars. Check out these highly recommended neighborhoods for those moving to Anchorage:

DOWNTOWN

If you’re searching for a slice of city life with easy access to the waterfront, Downtown has you covered. Full of restaurants, coffee shops, bars and museums, professionals, singles and young couples will find plenty to keep them busy.

TURNAGAIN

Turnagain is a family-friendly neighborhood known for its natural beauty. Lovers of the outdoors will thrive with all the parks and coastal hiking trails, and those who like to get out of town will appreciate easy access to the international airport.

SOUTH ADDITION

One of Anchorage’s more walkable neighborhoods, South Addition has a suburban feel with larger homes, nature trails and a lagoon where locals like to kayak. It’s also not too far from the city center! 

ROGERS PARK

This neighborhood features more modest and affordable homes while still granting easy access to Downtown. With shops, restaurants and convenient proximity to the city’s amenities, it’s a great spot for many lifestyles.

HILLSIDE

Hillside residents may pay more, but they enjoy a greater proximity to Alaska’s nature and landscapes. It’s full of trails, parks and beautiful views of the Chugagh Mountains and Cook Inlet.

Other neighborhoods to include in your Anchorage home search:

• Mountain View
• Rabbit Creek
• Huffman-O’Malley
• Spenard
• Eagle River

The Best Way Around Anchorage is By Car

If you prefer public transportation, most options in Anchorage are provided by the aptly named People Mover, a service made up of a variety of bus routes with service every 15 minutes. Folks with greater accessibility needs also have access to AnchorRIDES, or residents can check out the city’s RideShare carpool program. Of course, Uber and Lyft are also options for getting around the city.

While not considered too walkable, if you have the time and the weather isn’t too bad, Anchorage is one of those city’s that’s relatively bikeable. If you don’t have a bike, there are plenty of places around to rent from. 

Education Opportunities in Anchorage

Despite a high percentage of K-12 students attending public schools, Alaska has struggled with its public education. Anchorage’s math and reading proficiency scores are only slightly above stage averages, meaning there’s still a lot of work to be done and much left to be desired.

If you want the best for your young ones, check out Huffman Elementary, Bear Valley Elementary and Chugach Optional Elementary as a few of the city’s top-ranked schools. There are also 17 private schools to look into as an alternative.

Degree-seekers will want to check out University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University.

Winter People Will Love Anchorage

Okay, this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone: winter in Anchorage is intense. The colder averages whip in in October and stick around into March. January is by far the coldest, with lows averaging 13 degrees Fahrenheit and highs not much better at 23 degrees. As for snow, Anchorage sees an average of 77 inches, but can see much more. In fact, January 2024 marked the earliest the city ever hit 100 inches of snow, and it was till mid-Winter!

July daytime temperatures average around 68 degrees, making for a cooler summer than other areas of the country are used to. That doesn’t mean you won’t get those toasty 90-degree days, though. Even Alaska sees them every so often! 

But the best part? Summer is known as the Midnight Sun Season. This is because the sun is above the horizon for around 18 to 21 hours a day, with June 21 getting up to 22 hours! You’ll get to take advantage of that lasting sunshine to see the gorgeous landscapes in and around the city.

10 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in Anchorage

Alaska is known for its natural beauty and wildlife, but there’s plenty of other things to do up here. Here’s a list of 10 must-dos in Anchortown:

1. Take a cruise or sightseeing flight (aka “flightseeing”) to see the many glaciers and mountains surrounding the Anchorage area.
2. Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center to better understand the traditions and language of Native Alaskans.
3. Bike 135 miles of trails through the city and along the Alaskan coast. The 11-mile-long Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is one of the most popular!
4. Spend your Saturday or Sunday at the Anchorage Market and Festival, which hosts up to 100 vendors of food, crafts and clothes, as well as entertainment.
5. Catch a glimpse of trumpeter swans, red-necked phalaropes and bald eagles when you go birding at Potter Marsh.
6. Take a day trip out to the Matanuska Glacier for ice climbing, river rafting and zip lining.
7. Pan for gold (yeah, that’s right!) in Indian Valley and Crow Creek, known for late-1800s gold strikes.
8. Understand the role aviation played in the development of the state at the Alaska Aviation Museum.
9. Stay up late for your chance to see the stunning Northern Lights.
10. Stroll the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 300-acre facility that creates a safe home for animals and birds that are no longer able to survive in the wild.