Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Buckeye, AZ
🏆 Buckeye leads 15 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Buckeye
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,597)
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
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
84% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 21°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $22k less ($341,700 vs $363,800)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$1,543
$95,731 vs $94,188/yr
Buckeye
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
84% lower
166.8 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$22k less
$341,700 vs $363,800
Buckeye
Summer Heat
39.1°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Buckeye, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $94,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 95,042 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Buckeye's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 15 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 8 and Buckeye wins 15. 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 Buckeye or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $341,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $94,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Buckeye, AZ are about 2,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.