Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $34,366 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 84°F
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Providence, RI
Pros
73% less violent crime than Anchorage
Homes cost $71k less ($293,000 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,405)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 21°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $34,366/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$34,366
$95,731 vs $61,365/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
73% lower
276.7 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$71k less
$293,000 vs $363,800
Providence
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 73 ✓ 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- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 11 and Providence wins 12. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $293,000 median home), income ($95,731 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Providence, RI are about 3,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.