Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 13 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($363,800 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,734)
Households earn $12,959 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 79°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
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
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
82% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 21°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Median income trails Anchorage by $12,959/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Anchorage
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Income
$12,959
$95,731 vs $82,772/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$442k less
$363,800 vs $805,500
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
82% lower
185.2 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 79.0°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $82,772 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 79.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 31.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 13 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 10 and Urban Honolulu wins 13. 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $805,500 median home), income ($95,731 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 2,784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.