Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 16 of 22 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 93°F
Households earn $9,904 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Anchorage
Homes cost $73k less ($290,800 vs $363,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 21°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.8%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $9,904/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$9,904
$95,731 vs $85,827/yr
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
85% lower
156.4 vs 1014.8 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$73k less
$290,800 vs $363,800
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
26.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $85,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 38.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 35.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 16 of 22 categories. Anchorage wins 6 and New Braunfels wins 16. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $290,800 median home), income ($95,731 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and New Braunfels, TX are about 3,167 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.