Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,729)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,265 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
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 21°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $60k less ($304,000 vs $363,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Median income trails Anchorage by $7,265/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$7,265
$95,731 vs $88,466/yr
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
77% lower
235.7 vs 1014.8 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$60k less
$304,000 vs $363,800
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
36.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | San Tan Valley, 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 | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 9 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $304,000 median home), income ($95,731 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.