Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Beaverton, OR
🏆 Beaverton leads 14 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Beaverton
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($363,800 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,663)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 82°F
Households earn $6,832 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.9%)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Beaverton, OR
Pros
64% less violent crime than Anchorage
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 21°F
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Anchorage by $6,832/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Income
$6,832
$95,731 vs $88,899/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$131k less
$363,800 vs $494,700
Beaverton
Violent Crime
64% lower
364.8 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.2% unemployment
Beaverton
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.3°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Beaverton, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,663⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $88,899 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Beaverton SD 48J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 42.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 97,554 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 50.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Beaverton's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 9 and Beaverton wins 14. 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 Anchorage to Beaverton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $494,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $88,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Beaverton, OR are about 1,519 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.