Anchorage receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Anchorage
Scottsdale
Opportunity
86 · Top 1%
vs49 · Bottom 34%
Growth
30 · Bottom 17%
vs40 · Bottom 29%
Climate
47 · Bottom 1%
vs58 · Bottom 9%
Physical resilience
24 · Bottom 19%
vs47 · Bottom 38%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 7%
vs57 · Bottom 26%
Access
82 · Bottom 11%
vs99 · Top 22%
Economic stability
64 · Top 18%
vs53 · Bottom 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Anchorage | Scottsdale | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 288,976 | 243,821 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $103,284 | $110,886 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,144 | $86,009 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 169/sq mi | 1,325/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $395,900 | $789,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,489 | $2,013 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.9% | 67.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.1% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.7% | 61.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 7.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 282 | 1,128 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 4.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -13.8% | -38.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 68°F | 104°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 8°F | 43°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 14.2" | 8.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 23.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.2 | 49.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Anchorage
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Scottsdale
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Anchorage
61
Your Score
60
Area Score
Scottsdale
58
Your Score
55
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Anchorage, AK · Scottsdale, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology