1st Advantage MortgageIn Anchorage Municipality, Alaska, the typical household earns $103,284 a year and the typical rent is $1,489. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Anchorage Municipality by the numbers
- Rent, home values and ownership in Anchorage Municipality
- Household income in Anchorage Municipality
- How Anchorage Municipality residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for Anchorage Municipality
- Anchorage Municipality towns compared
- Anchorage Municipality residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Anchorage Municipality
- Room for a loan payment in Anchorage Municipality
- Four steps for Anchorage Municipality borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Anchorage Municipality residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Anchorage Municipality by the numbers
With an estimated 288,976 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Anchorage Municipality ranks 1st of 30 in Alaska for population. Packed into 1,707 square miles, that is close to 169 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Anchorage, AK metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 1 Census place inside Anchorage Municipality, Anchorage leads by population with about 288,976.
Rent, home values and ownership in Anchorage Municipality
Renters in Anchorage Municipality pay a median of $1,489 a month, 5% above the Alaska figure of $1,419. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $395,900, about 3.8 times the median household income. 64% of Anchorage Municipality households own their home and 36% rent. The median year built is 1982.
| Home costs | Anchorage Municipality | Alaska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,489/mo | $1,419/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $395,900 | $352,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 18% | n/a |
Household income in Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality households have a median income of $103,284 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 2nd of 30 in Alaska.
| Band | Anchorage Municipality | Compared with Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.0% | -2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.5% | -2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.3% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.1% | +3.5 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 51% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 8.9% of Anchorage Municipality residents in poverty, against 10.1% across Alaska. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.431 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Anchorage Municipality, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Anchorage Municipality residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Anchorage Municipality residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by public administration (11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Anchorage Municipality averages 4.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.9%). 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. 5.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Anchorage Municipality | Gap to Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 10.9% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Regional comparison for Anchorage Municipality
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (76 to 257 miles). Matanuska-Susitna Borough leads the group on income ($94,031), Copper River Census Area trails ($79,250), and Anchorage Municipality out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | - | $103,284 | $1,489/mo | 64% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 76 mi | $94,031 | $1,299/mo | 77% |
| Chugach Census Area, AK | 114 mi | $90,509 | $1,369/mo | 64% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 117 mi | $80,538 | $1,184/mo | 77% |
| Denali Borough, AK | 175 mi | $80,781 | $825/mo | 65% |
| Copper River Census Area, AK | 186 mi | $79,250 | $1,089/mo | 69% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 257 mi | $88,267 | $1,459/mo | 62% |
Anchorage Municipality towns compared
Anchorage is the only Census place mainly inside Anchorage Municipality, with about 288,976 of the county's 288,976 residents. Live in one of these Anchorage Municipality communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | municipality | 288,976 | $103,284 | $1,489 | 0 mi |
Anchorage Municipality residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 39% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.9%, against 11.0% for Alaska.
| Indicator | Anchorage Municipality | All of Alaska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 35.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.7% | 31.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 9.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 5.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Anchorage Municipality workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.2% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Anchorage Municipality
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Anchorage Municipality borrowers.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 51% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Anchorage Municipality
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Anchorage Municipality's medians:
- $103,284 a year is $8,607 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,489, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- $2,212: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Anchorage Municipality borrowers
Quick steps for Anchorage Municipality:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Anchorage Municipality.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alaska.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Anchorage Municipality residents
Anchorage Municipality borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Alaska state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Alaska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anchorage Municipality a high-income county?
Its $103,284 median ranks 2nd of 30 Alaska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Anchorage Municipality expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,489 against $1,419 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Anchorage?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Anchorage Municipality.
Are Anchorage Municipality applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Anchorage Municipality office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alaska it is the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities.