Mountains rise behind Anchorage and the sea lies in front, and about 287,000 people, a large share of Alaska's population, are spread across its enormous municipality. It feels like a real city with wild country at the edge of every street. Locals bike and ski the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, hike Flattop Mountain in Chugach State Park, and watch for moose in the neighborhoods. The Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center are good rainy-day stops, and Seward, Girdwood and Portage Glacier make easy day trips.
Costs run well above the national average, though rent is moderate. Crime is a concern, with violent crime about 2.5 times the US median and higher property crime in parts of Fairview and Mountain View. The wilderness is the bigger daily risk, from bears to the dangerous Turnagain Arm mudflats. Winters are dark and cold, earthquakes happen, and Fairbanks is a long 360 miles away.
Cities with a similar character, anywhere on the site.
Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.
- Known as
- Alaska's Largest City; The Big Wild Life; Air Crossroads of the World; City of Lights and Flowers (informal)
- Founded
- Established 1915 as a railroad construction port (Alaska Railroad tent city); incorporated 1920; unified municipality 1975
- Languages
- English; Spanish; Tagalog; Hmong; Samoan; Korean; Alaska Native languages (Yup'ik, Dena'ina, Inupiaq) also spoken; Anchorage is one of the most ethnically diverse US school districts
- Airports
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC), about 8 km southwest of downtown, a major cargo hub; Merrill Field (MRI) general aviation; Lake Hood seaplane base; Fairbanks (FAI) about 360 mi north; Kenai (ENA) about 160 mi south
- Tipping
- Restaurants 18-20%; bars $1-2 per drink; taxis and rideshare 15-20%; tour and fishing guides 15-20% (or $20-50 per party per day); lodge staff and river guides $10-20 per guest; hotel bellhops $2-5 per bag; housekeeping $3-5 per night; hair and spa 18-20%
