Anchorage Municipality
Alaska

What stands out

Three things set Anchorage Municipality apart from the other 3,142 counties: the overdose death rate is among the highest in America (67 per 100,000), home internet speed is in the top 4% of American counties (303 Mbps), and the median household income is in the top 5% of American counties ($95,731). Within Alaska it ranks 1st of 30 counties for the overdose death rate.

Where you are

You live in Anchorage Municipality, Alaska. 290,674 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.3% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -3,412).

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.

Money

The typical household here brings in $95,731 a year, higher than 95% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $74,666. Unemployment runs 3.3%, lower than 53% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 17 minutes each way.

Alaska has no state income tax, so none of that goes to the state.

Home

The median home costs $432K, pricier than 89% of American counties, about 3.2 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,375 a month. Property tax is 1.31% of home value, roughly $4,760 a year on that median home, higher than 78% of American counties. 64% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.4 per 1,000 residents, lower than 74% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 67 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 77.1 years, longer than 65% of American counties. There are 1,347 active physicians in the county, about 46.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.0 of 5 stars. 11.4% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

Under Alaska law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 95 out of 100, riskier than 95% of American counties; the county has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 303 Mbps down, faster than 96% of American counties. There are 15 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.8 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 17 breweries, 10 museums, 1 National Park Service site.