Alaskano income tax, 19th highest property tax, median home $340K
R+13 · Low tax burden · COL index 126
0%
Income Tax
838
Violent Crime / 100K
75
Life Expectancy
$340K
Median Home
$1,380
Childcare / Mo
Alaska in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Alaska
Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax, and it pays residents an annual Permanent Fund Dividend from oil revenue. Most goods arrive by barge or air, so groceries, fuel and building materials cost well above the national average, and winter heating is a major line item. Roughly half the population lives in the Anchorage area; much of the rest is reachable only by plane or ferry.
What Alaska taxes, and what it doesn't
Alaska has no state income tax. Wages, retirement withdrawals and investment income are untouched at the state level, which puts it in a group of 9 states with Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire and 5 others.
Property tax runs 1.04% of home value a year, roughly $3,536 on the state's median home of $340K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Alaska has the 19th highest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 1.76%, the 5th lowest in the country.
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.
Housing and the cost of living in Alaska
Alaska's cost of living index is 126, where 100 is the national average; that is the 5th most expensive of the 50 states.
The median home costs $340K, 12% above the national figure and the 24th lowest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,350 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $1,400 a year, flood coverage adds about $450 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,270.
Budget $145 a month for electricity and gas, $780 a month in groceries for two, $1,380 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 838 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, above the median state (387); Alaska is the most violent of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,544 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 75 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 12.1% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Alaska's health system 48th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 35th in the country.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Alaska is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 13 points in 2024.
On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.
Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Alaska is a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $11.73 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are earthquake, tsunami, wildfire. Annual average air quality index is 29 (under 50 is good).
Alaska has no top-25 hub airport, with about 60 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Alaska
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$3,536/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Near US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Among the least restrictive zoning (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
No statewide STR definition; boroughs/cities set rules; 2025 state bill failed.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
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Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Well above national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Among the highest registry rates (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
High homelessness rate; 18% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Alaska
Healthcare#48 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Bottom tier
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Above national avg (~9%)
EducationK-12 #35 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Below national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$1,380/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$145/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Near US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Well above national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel60+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport. Connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle66% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
7.4/100K residents: Top tier
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Surprisingly strong brewery-per-capita; Midnight Sun Festival
Transportation$1,270/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Below national avg
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$11.73/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
State constitution protects abortion rights
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
One of 5 states with no lottery. Limited pull-tab games allowed at licensed establishments.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Chena Hot Springs (Fairbanks) — clothing optional hot pools
Environment & ClimateAQI 29▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Excellent (national avg ~38)
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsR+13 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Prohibited in bars; consuming while carrying banned; restaurant scope unverified.
Gambling
Hunting & Outdoors62% public land▾
Sources: state wildlife agencies · USFS · BLM · USFWS (May 2026)
62% public land. Moose, caribou, Sitka blacktail deer. Many remote areas accessible only by floatplane. Brown bear and black bear are also common targets.
Alaska Dept of Fish & Game: Official Season Dates ↗Finding nearby venues...
Jobs & Economy4.1% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Tight labor market (US ~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+0.8% job growth · 4.1% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the most unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#3 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
High corporate rate. Plan entity structure carefully
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
No state sales tax; high corp rate applies mostly to C-corps
Daily Life$3.98/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Well above avg (+0.68 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Broad consumer fireworks legality; check local ordinances
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks65°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 13°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards23/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Murder Hornets
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits83/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
12% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Up to $150K exemption for disabled vets
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Alaska counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Alaska
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.