Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Anchorage, AK
🏆 Allen leads 17 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Anchorage
Alaska
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
90% less violent crime than Anchorage
Households earn $25,528 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 21°F
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,747)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 95°F
Homes cost $26k less ($363,800 vs $390,200)
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Allen by $25,528/yr
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$25,528
$121,259 vs $95,731/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
90% lower
106.4 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
27.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 67.4°F
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$26k less
$363,800 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Anchorage, AK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $95,731 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Anchorage School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 20.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 67.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 59.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 290,674 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Anchorage's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Allen is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 17 of 23 categories. Allen wins 17 and Anchorage wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Anchorage or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $363,800 median home), income ($121,259 vs $95,731), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Anchorage, AK are about 3,015 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.