Performance
Score Breakdown
Fairbanks
Northport
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Northport is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
22% higher compared to Fairbanks.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fairbanks's average rent is
16% higher than Northport's.
| Metric | Fairbanks | Northport | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,490 | $1,290 | +16% |
| Groceries | $610 | $490 | +24% |
| Utilities | $280 | $205 | +37% |
| Transport | $220 | $165 | +33% |
| Healthcare | $495 | $390 | +27% |
| Monthly Total | $3,095 | $2,540 | +22% |
| Cost Index | 111 | 90 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fairbanks offers 15% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Northport delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fairbanks is estimated at
$65,000 vs $54,000 in Northport.
| Metric | Fairbanks | Northport |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $61,500 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $54,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,964 idx | 68,333 idx |
| Household Income | $74,200 | $64,200 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Northport runs warmer on average — a 36.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Northport comes out ahead with 93 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fairbanks sees 62.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fairbanks | Northport |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 27.20°F | 63.50°F |
| Summer High | 72.00°F | 89.00°F |
| Winter Low | -17.00°F | 34.00°F |
| Rainfall | 11.20 in | 54.10 in |
| Snowfall | 64.10 in | 1.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 121 | 214 |
| Humidity | 71.00% | 66.00% |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fairbanks is the larger city
— approximately 1.2x the population of Northport.
From a growth perspective, Northport is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Northport has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fairbanks | Northport |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,155 | 26,700 |
| Pop. Growth | -0.10% | 1.30% |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.1 |
| Unemployment | 5.80% | 3.50% |
| GDP | $5.2B | $2.9B |
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fairbanks
#15Alaska, USA
76.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,490
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
111
Sunny Days
121/yr
Avg Temp
27.20°F
Pop. Growth
-0.10%
Unemployment
5.80%
Livability
78
Business
74
Northport
#13Alabama, USA
79.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,290
Avg Salary
$61,500
Cost Index
90
Sunny Days
214/yr
Avg Temp
63.50°F
Pop. Growth
1.30%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
80
Business
78
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