Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $31,480 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($196,700 vs $363,800)
33% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $393/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,405)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 21°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $31,480/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$31,480
$95,731 vs $64,251/yr
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
33% lower
676.0 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$167k less
$196,700 vs $363,800
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
25.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 6.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 9 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $196,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Oklahoma City, OK are about 2,853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.