Are you considering moving to Alaska, or are you curious about its safety? Although Alaska has a reputation for being wild and rugged, it also has several safe cities. We’ve created a list of the 10 safest cities in Alaska, focusing on places where safety and a comfortable lifestyle are priorities.
1. Palmer
Palmer is the safest city in Alaska with overall crime rate is 11% lower than the national average. With the median home cost of around $351,300 it is also one of the cheapest places to live in Alaska as well.
While Palmer is relatively safe it has other issues. Unemployment rate here is almost 7%, which is higher than the national average of 4.7% and the cost of living in Palmer is 16.52% higher than the national average.
2. Kenai
A small city surrounded by mountains, lakes, and glaciers with really low crime rates and a friendly community.
With the overall crime rate 1% lower than the national average, and violent crimes 9% lower than the national average, Kenai is the second safest town in Alaska.
Although real estate in Kenai is relatively affordable, with the median home price around $229,000, the cost of living is high, being 17.84% higher than the national average.
4. Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska and is located in the Interior region of the state. It is known for its cold winters, reaching temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit, but is also considered as one of the safest cities in Alaska.
While Fairbanks is safe for Alaska’s standards, the overall crime rate in here is 120% higher than the national average, with violent crimes being 124% higher.
The median listing home price in Fairbanks, Alaska, as of December 2023, was approximately $289.9K. The cost of living is 23% higher than the national average but 5% lower than the state’s average.
4. Juneau
Juneau is the capital of Alaska and is located in the state’s Southeast region. It is the only state capital in the United States that cannot be reached by road and can only be accessed by plane or ferry.
According to the Juneau Police Department there has been a significant decrease in crime rates in Juneau over the past year. Overall crime rates have dropped by about 40%, with violent crime decreasing by 33.5% and property crime by 41.9%.
Juneau’s economic conditions might also play a role in its crime rates. The city has a relatively low poverty rate of 6.9%, compared to the national average of 15.1%. It also reports an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is lower than the national average of 4.7%.
5. Wasilla
Wasilla, Alaska, located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, is the fourth-largest city in the state. It sits at the northern point of Cook Inlet in the southcentral part of Alaska, about 45 miles north of Anchorage. Wasilla had a population of 9,456 adn is a part of the Anchorage metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 398,807.
Wasilla is safe when we talk about Alaska but it is less safe than cities of it size in other states. The city has experienced an increase in overall crime by 6% year over year but violent crime has decreased by 15.9%, while property crime has seen an increase of 11.1%.
6. Anchorage
The largest city in Alaska is not considered as one of the safest by any means but in case you’re curiuos.
The violent crime rate in Anchorage is more than double the U.S. average, standing at 50.9 compared to the national average of 22.7. Property crime in Anchorage also exceeds the national average significantly, with a rate of 61.8 against the U.S. average of 35.4.
On a positive side, the total crime in the city has seen a reduction of 16.2% year over year, with violent crime decreasing by 5.3% and property crime by 20%.
Wrap-Up: Safest Cities in Alaska
While Alaska is the most dangerous state, it doesn’t mean that all cities there are unsafe.
There are a couple of places that are relatively safe compared to the national average, and some are even safer than their counterparts in other states known to be safer.
That said, I don’t want to say you’ll feel perfectly fine everywhere in Alaska, but in places like Palmer and Kenai, you will feel as safe as in any other typical town.
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Hi, I’m Ashley a freelance writer who’s passionate about personal finance. Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the power of money and how it can shape our lives. I’ve spent years learning everything I can about budgeting, saving, investing and retirement planning. So if you are looking for tips, advice, or just a little bit of inspiration to help you on your financial journey, you have come to the right place. I am always here to help, and I am excited to share my passion for personal finance with you.