Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 14 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Clovis
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 98°F
Homes cost $57k less ($363,800 vs $420,700)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $77/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,482)
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Median income trails Clovis by $2,823/yr
Clovis, CA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Anchorage
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 21°F
Households earn $2,823 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Anchorage
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$57k less
$363,800 vs $420,700
Anchorage
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Clovis
Median Income
$2,823
$98,554 vs $95,731/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
76% lower
244.6 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Clovis
Summer Heat
30.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $420,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,482⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 | $98,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 14.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 120,607 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 9 and Clovis 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 Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $420,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Clovis, CA are about 2,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.