Moving to Alaska? Here are the nine best places to live in Alaska that are extra special. From more forgiving climates, to the ease of living closer to the hustle and bustle of town, these are some of the best places to live. But to be honest, anywhere you go is the best place to hang your hat. All of Alaska is spectacular, but if you’re a bit picky or don’t know where to start, these cities and communities offer a wide range of the Alaskan experience!
- Eagle River
AK Real Estate Professionals Website People love Eagle River because of its family oriented communities and proximity to Anchorage. If it weren’t part of the Municipality of Anchorage, it would be considered one of the five largest cities in Alaska. Eagle River is a great, safe community to live in only minutes from the city. Life in Alaska is so much fun, and VacationIdea.com has 15 wonderful things you can do in Eagle River!
- Juneau
Dale Musselman | Flickr Alaska’s Capital is another great place to establish your roots. With a very high percentage of government jobs and the maritime climate, Juneau is a very wonderful place to live. Being located in the pan handle of Alaska, Juneau experiences milder winters by Alaskan standards with the average temperature in January being 23 degrees! If you’ve wondering where to live in Alaska, Thrillist has the Ultimate Travel Guide To Juneau!
- Anchorage
Paxson Wielder | Flickr Anchorage is the largest town in Alaska and by far the most well known. With all the perks of city life, adventure and exploration are still at your fingertips just minutes from town. Consider living in Anchorage if you don’t want to feel too cut off from the outside. Visit Anchorage has a wonderful list of things to do if you live in the biggest city in Alaska!
- Girdwood
Eric Teela | Flickr Girdwood is a quaint little ski town just outside of Anchorage. Living here is like living on a resort where recreation is available all year long. From incredible skiing in the winter, awesome hiking and biking in the summer, the town of Girdwood is a great, smaller community to settle down in if you’re all about getting outdoors and still remaining somewhat close to the city. Check out Girdwood’s city website for all the information about this cool town.
- Wasilla
Jimmy Emerson, DVM | Flickr Wasilla is farther out the George Park Hwy than Eagle River and is a popular commuting town for people who work in Anchorage. Eagle River has grown significantly over the years and is the sixth largest city in Alaska. The days here are significantly warmer than those of Anchorage because of its location farther inland. Consider moving to Wasilla if you don’t want to be in a big city but still have easy access to your basic amenities. Mat-Su Valley’s website offers a wonderful overview of this small city.
- Seward
Kevan Dee | Flickr Seward is a very popular tourist destination due to its port. The two lucrative industries for Seward are tourism and fishing. If you’re all about bike friendly cities then Seward is for you, there is a bike path that goes all the way through town out towards the outskirts of the bay. Though it may be a smaller town it offers incredible opportunities to get outside due to its proximity to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Learn more about the stunning National Park right outside Seward’s doorstep.
- Fairbanks
James Halliday | Flickr Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska but it gets MUCH colder than Anchorage in the winter, and much warmer in the summer months. The change in temperatures is mainly due to its subarctic climate. Fairbanks is a great city to consider relocating to, especially considering its median income of $55,409. Check out the best spots to go aurora borealis viewing in and around this beautiful city!
- Sitka
Marc Cappelletti | Flickr The “city” of Sitka is located on the Westernmost side of Baranoff Island. The maritime climate results in plenty of perspiration and very mild winters. Sitka is a beautiful place to live and experience Alaska. There are endless opportunities for adventure and exploration around Baranoff Island and the friendly community will have you feeling at home in no time! Often overlooked, this small town is one of the best places to live in Alaska. The City of Sitka’s website is a great place to learn more about this charming small town!
- Ketchikan
David Schroeder | Flickr Ketchikan is the Southernmost city in Alaska and its economy thrives on tourism and the fishing industry. The median family income is a whopping $68,431 and unlike much of the rest of Alaska, it never gets too cold. The climate remains mild all year long with plenty of rain. Ketchikan is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest so it’s impossible not to experience the amazing Alaskan wilderness if this is where you chose to settle down. Read more about the largest national forest in America, right outside Ketchikan.
Do you have any more towns that you think is one of the best places to live in Alaska? Where do you live in Alaska, and what makes it great? Let me know in the comments below.
AK Real Estate Professionals Website
People love Eagle River because of its family oriented communities and proximity to Anchorage. If it weren’t part of the Municipality of Anchorage, it would be considered one of the five largest cities in Alaska. Eagle River is a great, safe community to live in only minutes from the city. Life in Alaska is so much fun, and VacationIdea.com has 15 wonderful things you can do in Eagle River!
Dale Musselman | Flickr
Alaska’s Capital is another great place to establish your roots. With a very high percentage of government jobs and the maritime climate, Juneau is a very wonderful place to live. Being located in the pan handle of Alaska, Juneau experiences milder winters by Alaskan standards with the average temperature in January being 23 degrees! If you’ve wondering where to live in Alaska, Thrillist has the Ultimate Travel Guide To Juneau!
Paxson Wielder | Flickr
Anchorage is the largest town in Alaska and by far the most well known. With all the perks of city life, adventure and exploration are still at your fingertips just minutes from town. Consider living in Anchorage if you don’t want to feel too cut off from the outside. Visit Anchorage has a wonderful list of things to do if you live in the biggest city in Alaska!
Eric Teela | Flickr
Girdwood is a quaint little ski town just outside of Anchorage. Living here is like living on a resort where recreation is available all year long. From incredible skiing in the winter, awesome hiking and biking in the summer, the town of Girdwood is a great, smaller community to settle down in if you’re all about getting outdoors and still remaining somewhat close to the city. Check out Girdwood’s city website for all the information about this cool town.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM | Flickr
Wasilla is farther out the George Park Hwy than Eagle River and is a popular commuting town for people who work in Anchorage. Eagle River has grown significantly over the years and is the sixth largest city in Alaska. The days here are significantly warmer than those of Anchorage because of its location farther inland. Consider moving to Wasilla if you don’t want to be in a big city but still have easy access to your basic amenities. Mat-Su Valley’s website offers a wonderful overview of this small city.
Kevan Dee | Flickr
Seward is a very popular tourist destination due to its port. The two lucrative industries for Seward are tourism and fishing. If you’re all about bike friendly cities then Seward is for you, there is a bike path that goes all the way through town out towards the outskirts of the bay. Though it may be a smaller town it offers incredible opportunities to get outside due to its proximity to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Learn more about the stunning National Park right outside Seward’s doorstep.
James Halliday | Flickr
Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska but it gets MUCH colder than Anchorage in the winter, and much warmer in the summer months. The change in temperatures is mainly due to its subarctic climate. Fairbanks is a great city to consider relocating to, especially considering its median income of $55,409. Check out the best spots to go aurora borealis viewing in and around this beautiful city!
Marc Cappelletti | Flickr
The “city” of Sitka is located on the Westernmost side of Baranoff Island. The maritime climate results in plenty of perspiration and very mild winters. Sitka is a beautiful place to live and experience Alaska. There are endless opportunities for adventure and exploration around Baranoff Island and the friendly community will have you feeling at home in no time! Often overlooked, this small town is one of the best places to live in Alaska. The City of Sitka’s website is a great place to learn more about this charming small town!
David Schroeder | Flickr
Ketchikan is the Southernmost city in Alaska and its economy thrives on tourism and the fishing industry. The median family income is a whopping $68,431 and unlike much of the rest of Alaska, it never gets too cold. The climate remains mild all year long with plenty of rain. Ketchikan is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest so it’s impossible not to experience the amazing Alaskan wilderness if this is where you chose to settle down. Read more about the largest national forest in America, right outside Ketchikan.
Looking to learn more about the fun towns in our great state? Here Are The 15 Coolest Small Towns In Alaska You’ve Probably Never Heard Of.
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Address: Ketchikan, AK 99901, USAAddress: Fairbanks, AK, USAAddress: Sitka, AK, USAAddress: Eagle River, Anchorage, AK 99577, USAAddress: Girdwood, Anchorage, AK, USAAddress: Anchorage, AK, USAAddress: Juneau, AK, USAAddress: Seward, AK 99664, USAAddress: Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Places To Live In Alaska November 19, 2020 Megan McDonald Are all the towns in Alaska small? There are a couple of large cities in Alaska, but most of the state is made up of tiny towns. The entire state has less than a million people, which is less than some state’s smaller cities! Many towns and villages are also hard to get to without flying there, so it makes the towns much smaller than they would be if they were accessible by road. What time of year is best to move to Alaska? Summer is the best time to move because it’s easier to do so. Winter has cold, brisk weather, with plenty of snow or rain. Ferries, planes, and other transportation may be limited if you’re moving to a smaller town, so it may be hard to get there. If you’re moving to a bigger city, then finding a rental should be easy to do all year long.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Places To Live In Alaska
November 19, 2020
Megan McDonald
Are all the towns in Alaska small? There are a couple of large cities in Alaska, but most of the state is made up of tiny towns. The entire state has less than a million people, which is less than some state’s smaller cities! Many towns and villages are also hard to get to without flying there, so it makes the towns much smaller than they would be if they were accessible by road. What time of year is best to move to Alaska? Summer is the best time to move because it’s easier to do so. Winter has cold, brisk weather, with plenty of snow or rain. Ferries, planes, and other transportation may be limited if you’re moving to a smaller town, so it may be hard to get there. If you’re moving to a bigger city, then finding a rental should be easy to do all year long.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are a couple of large cities in Alaska, but most of the state is made up of tiny towns. The entire state has less than a million people, which is less than some state’s smaller cities! Many towns and villages are also hard to get to without flying there, so it makes the towns much smaller than they would be if they were accessible by road.
What time of year is best to move to Alaska?
Summer is the best time to move because it’s easier to do so. Winter has cold, brisk weather, with plenty of snow or rain. Ferries, planes, and other transportation may be limited if you’re moving to a smaller town, so it may be hard to get there. If you’re moving to a bigger city, then finding a rental should be easy to do all year long.
