Anchorage is a livable city with a highly educated populace, high per capita income, and a very stable housing market. The wealth of local amenities and activities make it attractive to those who don’t mind the northern climate.
Cost of Living
According to city statistics aggregator AreaVibes.com, Anchorage has a cost of living that is about 25 percent higher than in the rest of the nation but slightly lower than across the state of Alaska.
The median household income, however, is $76,495 per year, much higher than the nationwide median score. The unemployment and poverty rates are also lower than the nationwide average. This means that the higher average income helps to offset the higher cost of living.
Housing
Housing in Anchorage is above average and very stable. The median price for a home in Anchorage is $277,100, making buying a home a strong investment. Rental cost per month has a median of $1,104, which is above the national average. This leads to over 61 percent of properties being owner occupied as opposed to rentals.
Seven percent of properties are currently vacant, with nine percent of those up for sale only, making housing stable, but less available than in other states.
Weather
As one might expect, the weather in Anchorage is cold, with temperatures in January averaging below 15 degrees Fahrenheit and those in July at 57.8 degrees. However, the climate is quite dry, averaging zero inches of precipitation year round.
284 days out of the year rate high air quality, with only one day of the year rating unhealthy across the board. Those sensitive to pollutants will have difficulty, on average, four days per year.
Education
Anchorage features a highly educated populace. While the student-teacher ratio is somewhat high at 19:1, approximately 88 percent of the population graduate high school, with 69 percent going on to college and nearly 33 percent holding at least a four-year degree.
The Anchorage School District is not only the largest in the region, it’s the 93rd-largest in the United States. Post secondary institutions include Alaska Pacific University and the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Outdoor Recreation
One might not consider such a cold region good for outdoor recreation, but Anchorage features some of the state’s most attractive biking, hiking, camping, skiing, and snowmobiling options. In addition, rock climbing and dog sledding are popular pastimes in the region.
Notable attractions include the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which is a refuge for injured or orphaned wildlife, and features moose, deer, musk ox, caribou, and birds in their natural habitats.
Arts and Culture
From international artists to local performers, Anchorage has a wide and varied cultural landscape. The city hosts countless arts and entertainment festivals throughout the year, which highlight a staggering array of musicians, dramatic performances, and artists.
The Anchorage Boat Show and Spring Break Carnival are must-attend events. Native culture is a primary attraction and includes the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum, the Alaska Culture Pass, and the Alaska Heritage Museum.
Restaurants
Anchorage boasts many dining establishments with a broad palate of cuisines available.
Humpy’s Alehouse features more than 20 local craft brews on tap. Club Paris in downtown serves up some of the best steak in the city, and the City Diner offers some classic 1950s nostalgia combined with classy service and a lively atmosphere.
Sports
Anchorage boasts a single professional sports team, the minor league Alaska Aces hockey club.
The main sports event in Anchorage is dog sled racing. The first Saturday of March brings the city out in full force for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which begins on Fourth Avenue.
The city is also home to the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship Dog Sled Races, which take place over three days and consists of three, 25.5-mile races.
Featured image source: Flickr user Paxson Woelber
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