Seamless blend of wilderness and city life in Southcentral Alaska.
Alaska often evokes images of snowcapped mountains, glacial rivers and wild moose. Fortunately for homebuyers who enjoy the outdoors, it's easy to find all that, even in Anchorage, a city with nearly 300,000 people. "It has a winter wonderland look to it. There's a little bit of snow on the trees. You've got the mountains, the sunrise and the sunset. It's absolutely gorgeous," says Janis Tolbert, a Realtor with Herrington and Company with over 18 years of experience. "There's lots of hikes and trails you can go on. It's not smoggy. It's a nice clean place, and the air is clean."
Anchorage—officially known as the Municipality of Anchorage—is the largest city in the state, home to approximately 40% of Alaska's population. It's also one of the largest cities in the country by area, covering nearly 2,000 square miles. The western part of the city is a low-lying area known as the Anchorage Bowl, where most residents live. This section is home to shopping and dining, museums, performing arts centers, hospitals and schools. Everything east of here is rugged Alaskan wilderness, with several trails and lakes open for hiking and exploring. Despite its isolation from the rest of the continental United States, Anchorage has become a global shipping hub. The city is within nine and a half hours of 90% of the industrial world. Cargo flights from companies like FedEx and UPS regularly make fuel stops at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, the fourth busiest cargo airport in the world. Other notable industries include oil and healthcare, with the state's largest hospital located in town. Anchorage is also home to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a military base with over 32,000 service members and civilians.
A family enjoys a hike and the spectacular views from the Flattop Mountain trailhead nearby.
Enjoy the breathtaking views of Eklutna Lake and Bold Peak with its snowcapped mountains, just a few miles from Northeast Anchorage.
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Plenty of parks from neighborhood spots to the Chugach Mountains
Anchorage has over 200 city parks across nearly 11,000 acres, including playgrounds, pools, recreation centers and athletic fields. The city also maintains 250 miles of trails and greenbelts, like the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. This 11-mile path runs along the coast from Kincaid Park to Downtown Anchorage , providing views of the Cook Inlet and the city. Far North Bicentennial Park is a 4,000-acre natural area with several trails at the foothills of the Chugach Mountains. Besides city parks, Anchorage offers easy access to Chugach State Park, a 425,000-acre mountainous area with some of the most used trails in the state. Flattop Mountain, near Bear Valley , is a 3-mile hike with 1,500 feet of elevation gain, offering sweeping views of Anchorage and as far away as Denali. The glacial-fed Eklutna Lake is in the park's northern section and has more hiking trails, kayak rentals and fishing access. The park also has several campgrounds.
Snowfall in Anchorage starts in October and lasts until March, but that doesn't keep people inside. Hiking trails are used for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or dog sledding. Ski areas like Hilltop, Arctic Valley and Alyeska Resort offer plenty of slopes with varying difficulties. The western edge of Anchorage juts out into the Cook Inlet, separating it into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm. While these bodies of water provide plenty of scenery, dangerous coastal mud flats make it hard to get to the water and limit activity.
Much of Anchorage is backdropped by the Chugach Mountain range including Huffman/O' Malley.
Just outside of Old Seward/Oceanview, resorts such as Alyeska Resort offer employment and fun.
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Shopping, entertainment and culture in Alaska's largest city
Anchorage has multiple shopping and dining destinations, offering convenience from many neighborhoods. Tikahtnu Commons, in the Northeast Anchorage community, has chain stores and restaurants in the city's northeast section. Dimond Center is an indoor mall in the southern Taku-Campbell area with big box stores and smaller chains. Downtown features many local restaurants serving standard Northwest cuisine like salmon, halibut, crab legs and reindeer sausage. The city is known for several breweries offering award-winning beer styles. Tolbert recommends Crow's Nest or Simon & Seafort's for a meal with a scenic view of the water.
Downtown Anchorage has several entertainment options, like the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. This venue hosts live music, traveling Broadway shows, operas and dance performances. The Anchorage Museum showcases Alaska's art and history through permanent and rotating exhibitions. The Alaska Native Heritage Center tells the stories of Alaska Native Peoples through cultural artifacts and a life-sized village resembling native dwellings. The city also hosts several annual events and festivals, including the ceremonial start of the famed Iditarod dog sled race. Spectators can watch the dogs race through the city on the first Saturday in March before the official start in Willow the next day. Other events include the Summer Solstice Festival in June and the Anchorage International Film Festival in December.
Downtown Anchorage is a hub of tourism, quaint shops, delicious restaurants, and culture.
The Anchorage Museum manicures a beautiful garden outside its doors.
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A tight housing market in Anchorage
Anchorage has many housing styles, but Craftsman, log cabin and ranch-style homes are among the most common. Much of the city is suburban, but some areas near downtown and Northeast Anchorage have lots of condos or single-family homes built close together. There are also several rural, mountainous neighborhoods in south Anchorage, offering a secluded location surrounded by tall evergreens. The median price is $387,350, up 5% over the past year and an increase of approximately 35% since 2020. Homes in Anchorage are the most expensive they've been in over 20 years, and the city is experiencing a housing crisis due to multiple factors, including rising home prices, construction costs and labor shortages. The city is running out of room to build homes, and many new houses do not have municipal utilities. The population of Anchorage has decreased in recent years, with many residents moving north to the Matanuska-Susitna borough, where they can find lower prices and larger lots.
The neighborhood of Hillside sits against the rugged Chugach Mountains on Anchorage's east side.
The Hillside neighborhood is one of the premier locations in Anchorage.
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Anchorage education options from elementary to college
Anchorage School District serves the city's students and receives an A from Niche. Approximately 43,000 students attend the district's 130 schools and programs. The district prepares students for the future through its Academies of Anchorage program. Students select a pathway at the end of their freshman year that aligns with their career interests and take electives in that subject throughout the rest of high school. Options include business, law, construction and culinary arts. There are 26 general pathways with 85 specialty focuses. Anchorage is also home to two universities. University of Alaska Anchorage, or UAA, has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students, 90% of which are in-state residents. The school offers over 100 programs and is known for engineering, health and business. Alaska Pacific University is next to UAA and serves nearly 600 students, with strong pre-nursing and health sciences programs.
University of Alaska Anchorage near Campbell Park has an excellent library.
Alaska Pacific University, located in the University Area, is a small Methodist college.
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Getting around Alaska by road, bus or plane
Glenn Highway connects Anchorage to the nearby cities of Palmer and Wasilla, about 45 miles north. The closest major city is Fairbanks, about a 350-mile drive north on Alaska Route 3. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is served by 14 airlines and has flights to Seattle, Portland, Juneau, Fairbanks and other cities in the Northwest. To get around the city, the Anchorage People Mover has multiple bus routes connecting several neighborhoods.
Being prepared for arctic climates
Buyers coming from out of state should be prepared for Alaskan weather. Summers in Anchorage are mild, with temperatures in the low 70s, but winters can be harsh. The high throughout winter is in the mid-20s, with the lows around 10 degrees. These freezing temperatures keep snow on the ground throughout the season, making it essential to dress accordingly. Because the city is so far north, Anchorage also has shorter days in the winter, with sunrises as late as 10 a.m. and sunsets as early as 3:40 p.m. Summer days can have nearly 20 hours of sunlight, but most people in Anchorage have blackout curtains.
The city is facing several climate risks due to increasing temperatures. Warmer summers lead to a higher risk of wildfires, while warmer winters cause more rain and icier conditions. A survey found that healthcare and property damages from ice events in 2020 and 2021 cost $47.8 million for Anchorage residents. The state has a program known as Firewise that provides funds and advice on how to prepare homes for potential wildfires. Anchorage also has a Climate Action Plan that outlines strategies to reduce the city's emissions and prepare residents for potential hazards.
Combating crime in Alaska's largest city
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the reported rates of both property and violent crime in Anchorage exceed the state and national averages. However, data from the Anchorage Police Department reflects an approximate 20% decrease in violent crime rates between 2023 and 2024. The Anchorage Police Department has several resources, like Community Action Policing, which works with citizens, community groups and businesses to prevent crime. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design encourages actions that reduce the likelihood of crime at home or the workplace, such as removing rocks close to windows, trimming hedges and adding proper lighting.
Born in B.C. Canada, I moved to the beautiful state of Alaska in 1984 after attending Gonzaga University. I am married to a lifelong Alaskan and we have 4 dogs. Every day I feel fortunate to live and work in this great state! If you are ready to buy, or sell your home and would like to work with a true professional with over 28 YEARS of PROVEN RESULTS, give me a call. I will make sure you receive the attention you deserve. Buying or selling Real Estate can be a very big decision and mistakes can be costly. If you want someone on your side with years of experience, in all sorts of markets, feel free to call me for a free, no obligation consultation. Thanks for visiting my site
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
