Latest Census city estimates released May 14, 2026 · Population as of July 1, 2025 · Next city estimates scheduled for May 2027. Release schedule
Anchorage, Alaska population is 287,155 as of July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate), ranking #76 nationally and #1 in Alaska. Cost of living runs 5.4% above the U.S. average (BEA RPP 2024); the four-person spending scenario corresponds to modeled gross income of $130,778/yr (TY2026 tax assumptions; partial scenario excluding unverified local income tax). This profile draws on 13 federal datasets covering population, housing, income, employment, climate, and risk.
287,155 people live in Anchorage as of July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025), the #76 largest U.S. city.
How big is Anchorage?
Anchorage covers 1,706.8 square miles of land and 237.7 square miles of water. Its population density is about 168 residents per square mile of land. Compare U.S. cities by land area →
Source detail: 2025 population
2025 population
Source agency
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
Dataset
Census PEP
Vintage / period
Vintage 2025 (Jul 1, 2025)
Native geography
Census PEP subcounty place records for the included city universe.
Transformation
Copied from POPESTIMATE2025, joined by Census GEOID, and used for ranks, filters, and city pages.
Known limit: Annual estimate, not a decennial count; each new PEP vintage can revise the prior series.
Population shrank 1.4% from the April 2020 base to mid-2025.
Vintage 2025 · annual estimates
Recent history (V2025 series, 2020 base → 2025).
2020 base: 291,242 → 2025: 287,155 (-1.4%)
Year
Population
Reference date
2020 base
291,242
April 1, 2020
2020
290,877
July 1, 2020
2021
288,923
July 1, 2021
2022
286,992
July 1, 2022
2023
286,771
July 1, 2023
2024
287,369
July 1, 2024
2025
287,155
July 1, 2025
Earlier history (2010–2019, prior Census vintage)
These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2019 release — a separate, earlier methodology. They’re shown here as historical context only; the 2010 and 2019 values aren’t directly comparable to the 2020–2025 series above.
Population shrank 1.8% from the July 2010 estimate to 2019 (V2019 — see seam note below).
Anchorage is the #76 largest of 19,483 U.S. cities and #1 in Alaska.
▸Show the analyst detail (9 rows)
Measure
Value
Note
2020 base
291,242
April 1, 2020 census base
5-yr change
-4,087
2020 base → 2025; within V2025
5-yr change %
-1.4%
within V2025 only
1-yr change
-214
2024 → 2025 estimate
1-yr change %
-0.1%
within V2025 only
Density
168
people per sq mi, land only
Land area
1,706.8
sq mi (2025 Gazetteer)
U.S. rank by population
#76
of 19,483 cities
State rank by population
#1
of 149 in Alaska
What is the median household income in Anchorage?
Same-period U.S. benchmarks: household income $80,734 ± $166; per-capita income $44,673 ± $122. Margins are at 90% confidence. Comparison badges describe point estimates; they are not significance tests.
Median household income is 28% above the U.S. median ($103,284 vs $80,734); 8.9% live in poverty, 3.5 points below the 12.5% U.S. estimate.
Median household income$103,284
US
Anchorage: $103,284 — 28% above the US median of $80,734.
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of cities with ACS income data; censored rows retained in the distribution
Anchorage
$103,284
United States
$80,734
Income and poverty estimates for Anchorage from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates (window 2020–2024). Every figure is shown with its 90% margin of error (MOE). Cells where the ± margin exceeds half the estimate are flagged "low precision." See methodology §12.
Measure
Estimate
± margin / note
Median household income
$103,284+27.9% vs US
±$2,702
Per capita income
$51,144+14.5% vs US
±$870
Population in poverty
8.9% ± 0.8 percentage points
share of population for whom poverty status is determined
Median home value is 19% above the U.S. median ($395,900 vs $332,700); median rent is 5% above ($1,489 vs $1,413); price-to-income ratio (3.8×) is roughly in line with the U.S. median (4.1×).
Median home value$395,900
US
Anchorage: $395,900 — 19% above the US median of $332,700.
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of cities with ACS home-value data; censored rows retained in the distribution
HUD 2-BR fair-market rent$1,631/mo
US
Anchorage: $1,631/mo — 51% above the US median of $1,077/mo.
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of cities with a HUD Fair Market Rent
Same-period U.S. benchmarks: home value $332,700 ± $236; gross rent $1,413 ± $2. Comparison badges describe estimates and do not establish statistical significance.
Measure
Estimate
± margin / note
Median value, owner-occupied units
$395,900+19.0% vs US
±$8,191
Median gross rent
$1,489+5.4% vs US
±$38
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-BR (FY2026)
$1,631-8.7% vs US
Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area· 40th-percentile gross rent · HUD methodology
Owner-occupied share
63.9% ± 0.9 percentage points
of occupied housing units
Price-to-income ratio
3.8x± 0.13x approximate 90% MOE-7.0% vs US
median home value ÷ median household income · U.S. ratio: 4.1x
Rent-burdened (≥30% of income)
46.3% ± 2.6 percentage points-9.4% vs US
renters with a computed rent/income ratio · U.S. share: 51.1%
Severely rent-burdened (≥50%)
20.7% ± 1.8 percentage points-19.9% vs US
renters with a computed rent/income ratio · U.S. share: 25.9%
Poverty (Census SAIPE 2024, model-based), unemployment (BLS LAUS 2025 annual averages), and remote-work share (ACS 2020–2024) for Anchorage. Numbers are labeled at their native grain — place-grain when BLS publishes it, otherwise per-county. We do not compute population-weighted county averages. See methodology §13.
Measure
Value
Grain
Unemployment rate (annual avg)
3.9%
Anchorage (BLS sub-state LAUS)
Civilian labor force
151,131
2025 annual avg
Worked from home
10.9% ± 0.7 percentage points-27.8% vs US
share of workers 16+ working from home · U.S. share: 15.1% · ACS
County context — Anchorage sits in Anchorage Municipality:
County
Poverty rate
Median HH income
Unemployment
Anchorage Municipality
8.7%
$103,780
3.9%
Top industries by private employment — NAICS supersectors rolled up from Anchorage's linked county in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW, 2025 annual averages). See methodology §11.
#
Industry (NAICS supersector)
Private employment
Avg weekly wage
#1
Health care and social assistance (62)
26,817
$1,461 / wk
#2
Retail trade (44-45)
15,058
$873 / wk
#3
Accommodation and food services (72)
14,355
$683 / wk
#4
Transportation and warehousing (48-49)
13,276
$1,909 / wk
#5
Professional and technical services (54)
8,761
$1,979 / wk
What workers earn in the Anchorage, AK metro — top occupations by employment plus six curated benchmarks (registered nurse, software developer, elementary teacher, general manager, retail salesperson, truck driver). Wages are metro-area medians from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). See methodology §25.
Registered Nurses is the largest tracked occupation in the Anchorage, AK metro (4,990 jobs, median $115,290/yr).
▸Show all 13 occupations
Occupation
Employment
Median annual
Median hourly
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
4,440
$39,140
$18.82
Stockers and Order Fillers
4,070
$40,310
$19.38
Fast Food and Counter Workers
3,600
$33,280
$16.00
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
3,070
$68,620
$32.99
Cashiers
2,890
$36,350
$17.48
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
2,780
$40,510
$19.48
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
2,620
$44,510
$21.40
Registered Nurses · benchmark
4,990
$115,290
$55.43
Retail Salespersons · benchmark
4,710
$37,520
$18.04
General and Operations Managers · benchmark
3,290
$120,030
$57.71
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education · benchmark
1,720
$79,270
—
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · benchmark
All items run 5.4% above the U.S. average (RPP 105.4); utilities run 11.8% above (RPP 111.8) — the metro's utility cost premium is the main driver.
Cost of living (RPP, all items)RPP 105.4
US
Anchorage's cost of living runs 5.4% above the U.S. average (RPP 105.4 vs 100).
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of metro/non-metro areas with a BEA price parity
BEA Regional Price Parity (all items)
RPP 105.4
+5.4% vs U.S. average · BEA 2024 · Anchorage, AK metro
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-BR
$1,631/mo
FY2026 · Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area
State income tax (top marginal rate)
0%
no state income tax · TY2026
Four-person monthly spending scenario
$10,898/mo
3BR rent + food + childcare + taxes + transport · federal sources; excludes unverified local income tax
One-person monthly spending scenario
$3,808/mo
1BR rent + food + taxes + transport · federal sources; excludes unverified local income tax
Local income tax
—
Unverified and excluded from the spending scenario; not a verified zero
Household budget figures are arithmetic floors using current federal sources at the grains documented in methodology. Not a recommended salary, not a poverty threshold, not a composite score.
10.9% ± 0.6 percentage points foreign-born (U.S. share 14.1%); Spanish is the most-spoken language at home other than English (4.6% of residents 5+).
A quick read on Anchorage's residents — nativity and languages spoken at home shown above, from the ACS 5-Year 2020–2024. The full demographic breakdown (age, race and ethnicity, household types, and educational attainment, each with its margin of error) lives on the demographics page.
Hottest month: July (67°F avg high). Coldest: January (6°F avg low). Annual precipitation: 22.6 in.
30-year climate normals (1991-2020) for Anchorage from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. See methodology §15 for the gridded vs. station source path.
Average monthly highs & lows · 30-year normal (NOAA 1991–2020). Every number on this chart is an average.
bar = avg daily high → avg daily lowprecip in inches below each barprecip in millimeters below each bar
21°-6°6°-14°
2.357
Jan
28°-2°12°-11°
1.642
Feb
35°2°15°-10°
1.640
Mar
47°8°27°-3°
0.819
Apr
58°14°36°2°
0.924
May
65°19°44°7°
1.333
Jun
67°20°48°9°
1.743
Jul
65°18°45°7°
2.667
Aug
56°13°37°3°
3.692
Sep
42°6°26°-4°
2.562
Oct
26°-3°13°-11°
1.744
Nov
23°-5°9°-13°
2.050
Dec
Avg July high
67°F20°C
Hottest typical month, daytime
Avg January low
6°F-14°C
Coldest typical month, overnight
Annual precipitation
22.6 in573 mm
Sum of monthly normals
Hottest / coldest month
Jul / Jan
67°F high / 6°F low20°C high / -14°C low
Monthly normals (12 rows)
Month
Avg high (°F)Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°F)Avg low (°C)
Precip (in)Precip (mm)
Jan
20.9-6.2
6.4-14.2
2.2657
Feb
28.0-2.2
11.6-11.3
1.6442
Mar
35.31.8
14.7-9.6
1.5640
Apr
47.18.4
26.5-3.1
0.7619
May
58.014.4
35.72.1
0.9424
Jun
65.418.6
43.76.5
1.3133
Jul
67.419.7
47.98.8
1.6843
Aug
64.518.1
44.97.2
2.6267
Sep
56.013.3
37.22.9
3.6492
Oct
42.15.6
25.7-3.5
2.4662
Nov
26.4-3.1
12.9-10.6
1.7244
Dec
23.3-4.8
8.9-12.8
1.9650
Source: Nearest GHCN 1991-2020 normals station: EAGLE RVR NATURE CTR (USC00502642), 4.2 mi from city centroid · methodology →
How safe is Anchorage from natural disasters?
Composite risk score: 97.4/100 — Relatively High nationally; top hazard: Earthquake (99.5).
Natural-hazard exposure for Anchorage from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index (FEMA NRI December 2025 v1.20.0). NRI is an expected-annual-loss composite calibrated on 1996–2019 historical losses, published at the U.S. county grain. See methodology §17.
County
NRI composite
Rating
Top hazards
Anchorage Municipality
97.4
Relatively High
Earthquake 99.5 Relatively High · Landslide 98.9 Relatively High · Winter Weather 98.8 Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · FEMA NRI December 2025 v1.20.0 · methodology →
How fast is home internet in Anchorage?
9 non-satellite ISPs serve the area; 5% of locations have gigabit-capable service per ISP filings.
Fixed broadband availability for Anchorage from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Data Collection (BDC), as of December 31, 2025. Every speed and provider count below is an ISP-reported advertised maximum — not measured throughput. Actual delivered speeds typically run 60–80% of advertised. See methodology §16.
Measure
Value
Note
Providers serving this city
9 + satellite
distinct ISPs, excluding satellite-only
Fiber providers
8
offer fiber-to-the-premises somewhere in the BDC
Units with ≥100/20 Mbps fixed
100.0%
share of broadband-serviceable units, ISP-reported max
Locations with ≥100 Mbps upload
5.1%
derived: max(fiber ≥100/20, gigabit). Fiber is symmetric; gigabit is ≥100 up by definition
Units with ≥1 Gbps fixed
4.9%
share of broadband-serviceable units, ISP-reported max
Total broadband-serviceable units
136,150
residential locations in the FCC Fabric (not households)
Source: FCC BDC · as of December 31, 2025 · methodology →
How much crime is reported in Anchorage?
In 2024, law enforcement reported 2,912 violent and 7,937 property offenses in the Anchorage jurisdiction — a violent-crime rate of 1,014.8 per 100,000, above the U.S. estimate of 359.1.
Reported offenses known to law enforcement from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program (CIUS Table 8), 2024. Figures describe the FBI agency jurisdiction: Anchorage — an FBI jurisdiction population of 286,958, versus the Census place population of 287,155. The rate per 100,000 is the FBI's own (count ÷ that jurisdiction population), never divided by the Census place figure. These are reported crimes under voluntary participation — not measured or victimization crime — and the FBI cautions against using them to rank or compare places. See methodology §31.
Offenses known, 2024
Count
Rate /100k
U.S. rate
Violent crime
2,912
1,014.8
359.1
Property crime
7,937
2,765.9
1,760.1
▸Offense breakdown and 3-year trend
Offense, 2024
Count
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter
27
Rape
462
Robbery
479
Aggravated assault
1,944
Burglary
910
Larceny-theft
5,813
Motor vehicle theft
1,214
Arson (12-month reporters only)
87
Year
Violent /100k
Property /100k
Jurisdiction pop.
2022
1,150.7
2,764.0
285,821
2023
1,061.7
2,891.7
285,026
2024
1,014.8
2,765.9
286,958
Only years the agency reported a complete 12 months appear; the FBI does not estimate missing agency-years, so a gap is a non-reporting year, not zero crime.
U.S. rate is the FBI national estimate (imputes non-reporting agencies); the city figures are reported-only. Source: FBI UCR CIUS Table 8 (2022–2024) · FBI agency jurisdiction: Anchorage · methodology → · FBI Crime Data Explorer →
In-state context.
Anchorage sits at state rank #1 among 149 cities in Alaska. Nearby in the state ranking:
Just above in the profiled set: Gilbert, AZ · #75 · 287,285 residents.
Just below in the profiled set: Madison, WI · #77 · 286,233 residents.
Quick travel facts for Anchorage
Quick travel facts.
Elevation
3,993 ft · at city centroid, from USGS 3D Elevation Program
Nearest scheduled-service airport
Merrill Field(MRI) · 19 mi 30 km from city centroid
Best months to visit
Jun, Jul · months when the avg high sits in 65–80°F and precipitation is at or below the city's median monthly precip
Sources: elevation from USGS 3DEP · nearest airport from OurAirports CSV (OurAirports type=large/medium and scheduled_service=yes; not an FAA service classification) · best months derived from NOAA 1991-2020 normals · methodology →
Frequently asked questions about Anchorage.
How many people live in Anchorage, AK?
Anchorage has 287,155 residents as of July 1, 2025, making it the #76 largest city in the United States and #1 in Alaska. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025.
Is Anchorage growing or shrinking?
Anchorage has shrunk 1.4% since the April 2020 census baseline, losing 4,087 residents, including a 0.1% decline from 2024 to 2025. Source: Census PEP Vintage 2025.
What was Anchorage's population in the 2020 census?
The GEOID for Anchorage is 0203000. These are the official datasets used by this profile's main data modules; click "methodology" for inclusion rules and the V2019 ↔ V2025 seam, or "source" for the raw publisher page. The headline population value above includes a source-detail disclosure with publisher, dataset, vintage, native geography, transformation, and caveat.
