Performance
Score Breakdown
Homewood
Fairbanks
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Fairbanks is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
5% higher compared to Homewood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Homewood's average rent is
21% higher than Fairbanks's.
| Metric | Homewood | Fairbanks | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,810 | $1,490 | +21% |
| Groceries | $560 | $610 | -8% |
| Utilities | $250 | $280 | -11% |
| Transport | $200 | $220 | -9% |
| Healthcare | $435 | $495 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $3,255 | $3,095 | +5% |
| Cost Index | 104 | 111 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Homewood offers 11% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Homewood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Homewood is estimated at
$71,000 vs $65,000 in Fairbanks.
| Metric | Homewood | Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $79,000 | $71,000 |
| Salary Needed | $71,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 75,962 idx | 63,964 idx |
| Household Income | $76,500 | $74,200 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Homewood runs warmer on average — a 37°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Homewood comes out ahead with 93 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fairbanks sees 62.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Homewood | Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 64.20°F | 27.20°F |
| Summer High | 89.00°F | 72.00°F |
| Winter Low | 35.00°F | -17.00°F |
| Rainfall | 54.90 in | 11.20 in |
| Snowfall | 1.40 in | 64.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 214 | 121 |
| Humidity | 66.00% | 71.00% |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fairbanks is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Homewood.
From a growth perspective, Homewood is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Homewood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Homewood | Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,500 | 32,155 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.00% | -0.10% |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 31.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.10% | 5.80% |
| GDP | $3.5B | $5.2B |
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Homewood
#3Alabama, USA
89.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,810
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
104
Sunny Days
214/yr
Avg Temp
64.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
3.10%
Livability
90
Business
85
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
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