Best small towns to live in Alaska

1. 1
   Unalaska, AK Score 75/100

   4,556 people · typical home $462k · household income $132k · 112 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 24% of AK · 4.0% unemployment

2. 2
   Valdez, AK Score 73/100

   3,847 people · typical home $313k · household income $99k · 51 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 19% of AK · 10.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Delta Junction, AK Score 71/100

   1,217 people · typical home $282k · household income $84k · schools in the top 17% of AK · 3.0% unemployment · 79 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Petersburg, AK Score 68/100

   3,227 people · typical home $308k · household income $71k · 205 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 7% of AK · 4.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Wrangell, AK Score 66/100

   2,088 people · typical home $296k · household income $64k · 49 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 21% of AK · 4.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Haines, AK Score 65/100

   1,757 people · typical home $283k · household income $87k · 239 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 10% of AK · 6.0% unemployment · 77 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Seward, AK Score 65/100

   2,794 people · typical home $338k · household income $85k · 216 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 3.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Sterling, AK Score 62/100

   6,323 people · typical home $353k · household income $102k · 231 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 5.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Kenai, AK Score 60/100

   7,641 people · typical home $284k · household income $87k · 311 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 7.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Skagway, AK Score 60/100

    1,174 people · typical home $427k · household income $89k · 92 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 1% of AK · 9.0% unemployment · 85 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Deltana, AK Score 60/100

    1,997 people · typical home $325k · household income $92k · schools in the top 17% of AK · 5.0% unemployment · 99 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Cordova, AK Score 58/100

    2,453 people · typical home $419k · household income $85k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 12% of AK · 9.0% unemployment · 40 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Dillingham, AK Score 58/100

    2,109 people · typical home $308k · household income $101k · 189 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 69% of AK · 7.0% unemployment · 23 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Kalifornsky, AK Score 58/100

    8,663 people · typical home $337k · household income $94k · 231 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 5.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Soldotna, AK Score 56/100

    4,485 people · typical home $306k · household income $56k · 161 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 6.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Diamond Ridge, AK Score 54/100

    1,329 people · typical home $344k · household income $88k · 231 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 4.0% unemployment · 17 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Fritz Creek, AK Score 53/100

    2,383 people · typical home $344k · household income $90k · 231 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 5.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Ridgeway, AK Score 53/100

    1,997 people · typical home $304k · household income $90k · 231 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 20.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    King Cove, AK Score 50/100

    1,352 people · typical home $100k · household income $62k · schools in the top 60% of AK · 9.0% unemployment · 323 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Homer, AK Score 50/100

    5,877 people · typical home $388k · household income $74k · 200 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 9.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Utqiaġvik, AK Score 49/100

    4,778 people · typical home $311k · household income $115k · schools in the top 90% of AK · 9.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Anchor Point, AK Score 49/100

    2,243 people · typical home $242k · household income $63k · 231 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 8.0% unemployment · 23 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Sitka, AK Score 48/100

    8,368 people · typical home $450k · household income $102k · 242 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of AK · 7.0% unemployment · 20 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Cohoe, AK Score 47/100

    1,598 people · typical home $243k · household income $64k · 231 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of AK · 10.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Big Lake, AK Score 46/100

    3,585 people · typical home $299k · household income $81k · 321 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 50% of AK · 3.0% unemployment · 18 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Alaska with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Alaska on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Alaska districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Alaska →