What’s the best part of Anchorage?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Anchorage are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Anchorage neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Alaska and Anchorage is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Anchorage for 2024? According to the most recent census data, South Addition looks to be the best Anchorage neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Anchorage that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Anchorage.
For more Alaska reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Anchorage
Population: 4,016
Median Home Value: $475,150 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $122,938 (Sixth best)
More on South Addition: Data | Real Estate
Population: 146
Median Home Value: $642,200 (best)
Median Income: $209,150 (best)
More on Hillside East: Data | Real Estate
Population: 10,122
Median Home Value: $391,000 (11th best)
Median Income: $138,832 (Fifth best)
More on Huffman-O’malley: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,101
Median Home Value: $532,600 (Third best)
Median Income: $156,703 (Second best)
More on Rabbit Creek: Data | Real Estate
Population: 200
Median Home Value: $532,600 (Third best)
Median Income: $114,682 (Ninth best)
More on Bear Valley: Data | Real Estate
Population: 519
Median Home Value: $523,000 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $115,263 (Eighth best)
More on Girdwood: Data | Real Estate
Population: 87
Median Home Value: $436,200 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $109,344 (11th best)
More on Birchwood: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,100
Median Home Value: $320,867 (17th best)
Median Income: $122,159 (Seventh best)
More on Old Seward-Oceanview: Data | Real Estate
Population: 227
Median Home Value: $423,500 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $153,194 (Third best)
More on South Fork: Data | Real Estate
Population: 168
Median Home Value: $642,200 (best)
Median Income: $140,575 (Fourth best)
More on Basher: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Anchorage, AK Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Anchorage, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 34 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Anchorage.” We’re lookin’ at you, South Addition.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Anchorage, Alaska has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Anchorage.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Anchorage
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Anchorage where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Anchorage are South Addition, Hillside East, Huffman-O’malley, Rabbit Creek, Bear Valley, Girdwood, Birchwood, Old Seward-Oceanview, South Fork, and Basher.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Anchorage aren’t all good. Midtown takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Anchorage.
The worst neighborhoods in Anchorage are Midtown, Mountain View, Downtown, Government Hill, and Fairview.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Alaska reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Anchorage For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Addition | 4,016 | $475,150 | $122,938 |
| 2 | Hillside East | 146 | $642,200 | $209,150 |
| 3 | Huffman-O’malley | 10,122 | $391,000 | $138,832 |
| 4 | Rabbit Creek | 6,101 | $532,600 | $156,703 |
| 5 | Bear Valley | 200 | $532,600 | $114,682 |
| 6 | Girdwood | 519 | $523,000 | $115,263 |
| 7 | Birchwood | 87 | $436,200 | $109,344 |
| 8 | Old Seward-Oceanview | 6,100 | $320,867 | $122,159 |
| 9 | South Fork | 227 | $423,500 | $153,194 |
| 10 | Basher | 168 | $642,200 | $140,575 |
| 11 | Rogers Park | 4,117 | $303,950 | $96,686 |
| 12 | Chugiak | 2,826 | $406,100 | $105,429 |
| 13 | Bayshore-Klatt | 9,225 | $319,600 | $108,222 |
| 14 | Turnagain Arm | 193 | $428,600 | $87,214 |
| 15 | Scenic Foothills | 8,810 | $259,075 | $93,003 |
| 16 | Eagle River | 26,608 | $363,758 | $105,078 |
| 17 | Tudor Area | 1,446 | $300,300 | $85,888 |
| 18 | Sand Lake | 21,940 | $342,862 | $104,127 |
| 19 | Eagle River Valley | 11,556 | $343,671 | $109,729 |
| 20 | Turnagain | 9,367 | $323,310 | $103,454 |
| 21 | North Star | 3,691 | $336,380 | $78,542 |
| 22 | Abbott Loop | 24,649 | $273,600 | $95,068 |
| 23 | Taku-Campbell | 12,918 | $257,020 | $81,579 |
| 24 | University Area | 10,255 | $301,157 | $74,236 |
| 25 | Northeast | 29,207 | $242,288 | $79,226 |
| 26 | Campbell Park | 8,117 | $311,000 | $81,927 |
| 27 | Russian Jack Park | 12,502 | $235,414 | $69,792 |
| 28 | Airport Heights | 6,648 | $235,557 | $65,031 |
| 29 | Spenard | 11,168 | $238,620 | $67,594 |
| 30 | Fairview | 5,724 | $272,000 | $53,634 |
| 31 | Government Hill | 1,754 | $318,900 | $70,387 |
| 32 | Downtown | 1,304 | $293,067 | $62,589 |
| 33 | Mountain View | 8,350 | $188,120 | $43,934 |
| 34 | Midtown | 3,641 | $222,733 | $51,280 |