Population 241,192 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Anchorage
Household size in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.79 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.88 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.72 | 2.91 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.70 | 2.72 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
At 2.70 people per household, Anchorage sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size is little changed from 2006–10, while the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2 | 35.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 35.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.1 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.8 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Anchorage is 36.8 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.2, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 14.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Anchorage than nationally: 13.4%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.4 points, as it has nationally. Anchorage has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Alaska cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Anchorage
Renters in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1% | 35.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.0% | 36.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 35.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 33.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a third of households in Anchorage rent their homes (37.0%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Alaska as a whole (33.2%). Among owners, 34.0% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 15.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +1.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Anchorage is close to the national rate: 10.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Alaska as a whole (15.2%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.7 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Anchorage was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Alaska as a whole, where the median home dates to 1987. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,182 | $1,067 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,263 | $1,192 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,511 | $1,322 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,667 | $1,518 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$486 | +$451 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Anchorage costs $1,667 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $486 a month from 2006–10, a 41% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.7% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Anchorage
Bachelor's degrees in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.6% | 26.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.6% | 29.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.1% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +4.9 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Anchorage as nationally: 37.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Alaska as a whole (31.1%). The share with a degree is up 5.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 90.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 92.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Anchorage is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Alaska. The share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Anchorage
| Period | Anchorage | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.7%, unemployment in Anchorage is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Alaska as a whole (6.2%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Anchorage compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | 2.70 | 36.8 | 13.4% | 37.0% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,667 | 37.1% | 93.4% | 4.7% |
| Elmendorf Afb | 2.74 | 23.0 | 2.7% | 99.7% | 2.1% | 1989 | $2,047 | 42.8% | 99.8% | 4.3% |
| Fort Richardson | 3.34 | 24.1 | 5.1% | 88.4% | 4.0% | 2003 | $2,263 | 36.5% | 96.8% | 6.9% |
| Eagle River | 2.70 | 35.7 | 4.9% | 19.2% | 7.0% | 1989 | $2,269 | 47.7% | 96.3% | 3.3% |
| Indian | 1.99 | 43.2 | 9.9% | 20.6% | 39.2% | 1985 | $1,849 | 50.6% | 97.9% | 0.8% |
| Hope | 2.14 | 43.9 | 8.1% | 31.9% | 70.5% | 1980 | $1,404 | 31.8% | 95.8% | 0.2% |
| Chugiak | 2.43 | 45.0 | 3.8% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,294 | 47.6% | 95.3% | 3.1% |
| Big Lake | 2.39 | 43.3 | 10.7% | 19.1% | 41.7% | 1993 | $1,166 | 13.2% | 89.0% | 2.1% |
| Peters Creek | 2.43 | 46.5 | 2.8% | 12.9% | 9.3% | 1985 | $1,251 | 50.9% | 95.4% | 6.1% |
| Knik | 2.60 | 39.4 | 6.9% | 22.7% | 26.6% | 1995 | $1,074 | 8.5% | 85.5% | 3.1% |
| Knik-Fairview | 3.04 | 33.1 | 10.7% | 15.3% | 9.6% | 2003 | $1,658 | 21.5% | 94.1% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Brownsville, TX · Brooklyn, NY · Bowie, MD · Birmingham, AL · Bethlehem, PA · Buckeye, AZ · Bloomington, MN · Bridgeport, CT · Bronx, NY · Detroit, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Anchorage. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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