Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Anchorage leads 13 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $50,326 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.2%)
3% less violent crime than Toledo
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 85°F
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 Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($98,800 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $551/mo less ($854 vs $1,405)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 21°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $50,326/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$50,326
$95,731 vs $45,405/yr
Anchorage
Violent Crime
3% lower
1014.8 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Anchorage
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$265k less
$98,800 vs $363,800
Toledo
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 37.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 13 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 13 and Toledo wins 10. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $98,800 median home), income ($95,731 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Toledo, OH are about 2,975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.