Performance
Score Breakdown
Anchorage
Aberdeen
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Aberdeen is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
37% higher compared to Anchorage.
Housing costs are a major driver: Anchorage's average rent is
27% higher than Aberdeen's.
| Metric | Anchorage | Aberdeen | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,583 | $1,250 | +27% |
| Groceries | $623 | $388 | +61% |
| Utilities | $409 | $288 | +42% |
| Transport | $350 | $80 | +338% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $305 | -34% |
| Monthly Total | $3,165 | $2,311 | +37% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 82 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Anchorage offers 59% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Anchorage delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Anchorage is estimated at
$125,309 vs $50,000 in Aberdeen.
| Metric | Anchorage | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $61,814 | $38,861 |
| Salary Needed | $125,309 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 49,451 idx | 47,391 idx |
| Household Income | $103,284 | $64,405 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Anchorage | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Aberdeen has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Anchorage.
Anchorage scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Aberdeen leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Anchorage | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 11 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/10 | 20.0/10 |
| Walkability | 31.0/10 | 39.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 31.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Anchorage is the larger city
— approximately 10.1x the population of Aberdeen.
From a growth perspective, Aberdeen is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Aberdeen has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Anchorage | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 286,278 | 28,376 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 0.97% |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.4 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 1.70% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Anchorage
Advantages
No state income tax allows residents to keep a larger portion of their earnings.
Exceptional access to stunning natural beauty and outdoor recreational activities.
Strong job market in key sectors like healthcare, oil & gas, and transportation.
Friendly community and welcoming atmosphere with a small-town feel.
Shorter average commute time compared to the national average.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living is significantly higher than the national average.
Higher property crime rate compared to the national average.
Limited public transportation options lead to high car dependency.
Challenging winter weather conditions with short daylight hours.
Elevated healthcare costs compared to the national average.
Aberdeen
Advantages
Aberdeen boasts a significantly low unemployment rate of 1.7% in 2026, well below the national average, indicating a robust job market.
The cost of living in Aberdeen is 18% less expensive than the national average, particularly in housing, making it highly affordable.
Residents enjoy a remarkably short average commute time of 11 minutes, significantly reducing daily travel stress.
Aberdeen serves as a regional healthcare hub with three hospitals and a wide range of medical specialties, ensuring quality healthcare access.
The city has a high livability score of 80 out of 100, reflecting a good quality of life with ample amenities and a strong community feel.
Drawbacks
Crime data for Aberdeen is conflicting, with some sources indicating a higher violent crime rate than the average U.S. city and a lower safety percentile.
Public transportation options are limited to a demand-response bus service, with very low utilization among workers, leading to high car dependency.
Aberdeen experiences very cold, snowy, and windy winters with average low temperatures reaching 6°F in January.
Despite some positive projections, population growth rates are inconsistent across sources, with some indicating stagnation or decline in recent years.
The average rent in Aberdeen has seen a significant increase of 52.9% in the past year, potentially impacting affordability for new renters.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Anchorage
#14Alaska, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,583
Avg Salary
$61,814
Cost Index
125
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
52.0/10
Walkability
31.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
72
Business
68
Aberdeen
#16South Dakota, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$38,861
Cost Index
82
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
20.0/10
Walkability
39.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.97%
Unemployment
1.70%
Livability
80
Business
65
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