Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 17 of 23 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
St. George
Utah
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $26,398 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 102°F
Homes cost $51k less ($363,800 vs $415,200)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than St. George
St. George, UT
Pros
79% less violent crime than Anchorage
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 21°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $26,398/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$26,398
$95,731 vs $69,333/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$51k less
$363,800 vs $415,200
St. George
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
79% lower
210.0 vs 1014.8 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
34.5°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 17 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 6 and St. George wins 17. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($95,731 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and St. George, UT are about 2,266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.