Performance
Score Breakdown
Anchorage
Homewood
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Homewood is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
12% higher compared to Anchorage.
Housing costs are a major driver: Anchorage's average rent is
13% higher than Homewood's.
| Metric | Anchorage | Homewood | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,583 | $1,400 | +13% |
| Groceries | $623 | $440 | +42% |
| Utilities | $409 | $275 | +49% |
| Transport | $350 | $80 | +338% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $625 | -68% |
| Monthly Total | $3,165 | $2,820 | +12% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Homewood offers 6% lower 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 Anchorage is estimated at
$125,309 vs $55,000 in Homewood.
| Metric | Anchorage | Homewood |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $61,814 | $65,695 |
| Salary Needed | $125,309 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 49,451 idx | 71,408 idx |
| Household Income | $103,284 | $94,485 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Anchorage | Homewood |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 72.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Anchorage scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Homewood leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Anchorage | Homewood |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 17 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/10 | 30.0/10 |
| Walkability | 31.0/10 | 65.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 31.00 | 70.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Anchorage is the larger city
— approximately 9.9x 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 | Anchorage | Homewood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 286,278 | 28,830 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 1.80% |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 29.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 2.10% |
| 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.
Homewood
Advantages
Homewood offers a high quality of life with a strong community feel and excellent local amenities.
The city boasts a low unemployment rate of 2.1% as of April 2026, indicating a robust job market.
Homewood provides convenient access to major employment centers and top-tier healthcare facilities in downtown Birmingham.
The overall cost of living is lower than the national average, despite higher housing costs compared to the broader metro area.
Homewood is noted for its walkability, allowing residents to access many local amenities on foot.
Drawbacks
Housing costs in Homewood are significantly higher than in other parts of the Birmingham metropolitan area.
The city exhibits high car dependency, with 82% of residents using personal vehicles for commuting.
Public transportation options are limited, with only 1% of residents relying on public transit.
Major traffic congestion can be an issue on key routes like US-280, impacting commute times.
The median household income saw a 12.8% decline in 2024, despite a high average household income.
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
Homewood
#3Alabama, USA
78.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$65,695
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
65.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
2.10%
Livability
82
Business
75
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Anchorage and Homewood.
Open Cost Calculator