Best Neighborhoods in Anchorage municipality, AK

25 neighborhoods ranked by safety, walkability, affordability, and quality of life — powered by real data from the US Census, FBI, EPA, and Walk Score.

Population: 290,6742026 Data

Best Neighborhoods in Anchorage municipality, AK — Key Takeaways

The best neighborhood in Anchorage municipality is Pleasant Valley CDP with a Kurby Score of 95/100. Anchorage municipality has 25 neighborhoods ranked by quality of life data. The safest neighborhood is Knik-Fairview CDP with a violent crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents, 3% below the national average of 3.6. The most affordable is Kwigillingok CDP with a median home value of $116,700.

Anchorage municipality has a population of 290,674, a median household income of $95,731, an unemployment rate of 5.9%, and a poverty rate of 9.6%. The median home value citywide is $363,800, which is 29% above the national average of $281,900.

Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.

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Top 3 Neighborhoods

Knik-Fairview CDP

68/100

Kurby Score

$287,000

Walk: 0

Crime: 3.5

Goldstream CDP

74/100

Kurby Score

$276,200

Walk: 0

Crime: 3.5

College CDP

71/100

Kurby Score

$275,100

Walk: 0

Crime: 3.5

Complete Rankings — 25 Neighborhoods

Best neighborhoods in Anchorage municipality ranked by Kurby Score, with median home value, walk score, crime rate, poverty rate, and unemployment rate.
#	Neighborhood	Kurby Score	Median Home	Walk Score	Crime Rate	Poverty	Unemployment
	Knik-Fairview CDP	68	$287,000	0/100	3.5 per 1K	10.4%	5.5%
	Goldstream CDP	74	$276,200	0/100	3.5 per 1K	6.9%	4.0%
	College CDP	71	$275,100	0/100	3.5 per 1K	6.0%	1.9%
4	South Lakes CDP	65	$347,700	0/100	3.5 per 1K	9.6%	7.5%
5	Sterling CDP	68	$332,400	0/100	3.5 per 1K	9.9%	10.5%
6	Ridgeway CDP	73	$300,000	0/100	3.5 per 1K	4.0%	6.7%
7	Meadow Lakes CDP	68	$287,900	0/100	3.5 per 1K	13.4%	5.7%
8	Gateway CDP	71	$397,400	0/100	3.5 per 1K	2.8%	5.3%
9	North Lakes CDP	70	$311,300	0/100	3.5 per 1K	10.0%	7.0%
10	Tanaina CDP	70	$288,600	0/100	3.5 per 1K	10.7%	6.4%
11	Badger CDP	69	$274,600	0/100	3.5 per 1K	5.0%	6.6%
12	Kalifornsky CDP	71	$282,900	0/100	3.5 per 1K	9.0%	2.6%
13	Steele Creek CDP	73	$309,900	0/100	3.5 per 1K	1.1%	2.8%
14	Lazy Mountain CDP	86	$330,200	—	3.5 per 1K	10.1%	6.4%
15	Kwigillingok CDP	82	$116,700	—	3.5 per 1K	15.4%	20.4%
16	Pleasant Valley CDP	95	$138,100	—	3.5 per 1K	0.0%	0.0%
17	Cohoe CDP	83	$215,500	—	3.5 per 1K	17.8%	11.2%
18	Farm Loop CDP	84	$351,500	—	3.5 per 1K	6.6%	7.8%
19	Deltana CDP	85	$267,700	—	3.5 per 1K	11.3%	3.2%
20	Kodiak Station CDP	57	N/A	—	3.5 per 1K	6.6%	0.0%
21	Healy CDP	91	$235,500	—	3.5 per 1K	9.5%	3.7%
22	Petersburg CDP	88	$277,900	—	3.5 per 1K	4.7%	3.7%
23	Buffalo Soapstone CDP	82	$273,000	—	3.5 per 1K	8.8%	13.7%
24	Chena Ridge CDP	85	$359,000	—	3.5 per 1K	6.3%	6.1%
25	Knik River CDP	90	$250,300	—	3.5 per 1K	11.1%	2.4%

Rankings by Category

Top 5 neighborhoods in Anchorage municipality for each quality-of-life metric.

Safest

Lowest violent crime rate

1
Knik-Fairview CDP
3.5 per 1K
2
Goldstream CDP
3.5 per 1K
3
College CDP
3.5 per 1K
4
South Lakes CDP
3.5 per 1K
5
Sterling CDP
3.5 per 1K

Most Affordable

Lowest median home value

1
Kwigillingok CDP
$116,700
2
Pleasant Valley CDP
$138,100
3
Cohoe CDP
$215,500
4
Healy CDP
$235,500
5
Knik River CDP
$250,300

Lowest Poverty

Lowest poverty rate

Lowest Unemployment

Lowest unemployment rate

Highest Income

Highest median household income

1
Steele Creek CDP
$118,934
2
Gateway CDP
$115,735
3
Farm Loop CDP
$112,683
4
Chena Ridge CDP
$106,688
5
Deltana CDP
$105,250

Best Air Quality

Lowest Air Quality Index

1
Knik-Fairview CDP
AQI 28
2
Goldstream CDP
AQI 28
3
College CDP
AQI 28
4
South Lakes CDP
AQI 28
5
Sterling CDP
AQI 28

How We Rank Neighborhoods in Anchorage municipality

Neighborhoods are ranked using the Kurby Score, a composite quality-of-life index that evaluates six weighted categories based on publicly available data:

Affordability: 25% weight
Walkability & Transit: 15% weight
Safety: 17% weight
Environment: 17% weight
Education: 13% weight
Economy: 13% weight

Each category incorporates multiple data points. For example, Safety uses both violent and property crime rates; Environment considers air quality (AQI), noise levels, climate risk, and flood zone status; Affordability factors in home price-to-income ratio, rent, and electricity costs.

Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and EIA Electricity Data. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.

Lifestyle & Amenity Scores

Based on nearby amenities, noise levels, and quality of life factors

Parks0/100

Grocery0/100

Dining0/100

Nightlife0/100

Shopping0/100

Healthcare0/100

Daycare0/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the greenest neighborhoods in Anchorage municipality?

The greenest neighborhoods in Anchorage municipality by air quality are: Knik-Fairview CDP, Goldstream CDP, College CDP, South Lakes CDP, Sterling CDP. Rankings are based on EPA Air Quality Index data.

Which neighborhood in Anchorage municipality has the best air quality?

Knik-Fairview CDP has the best air quality with an AQI of 28. The national average AQI is 42. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.

What is the air quality like in Anchorage municipality?

Anchorage municipality has an average AQI of 28. The national average is 42. An AQI under 50 is considered "Good" by the EPA.

How are green neighborhoods ranked?

Neighborhoods are ranked primarily by EPA Air Quality Index (lower is better). We also consider walkability, safety, and affordability. A dedicated greenery/tree canopy score will be added when data becomes available.

Which green neighborhood in Anchorage municipality has the lowest poverty rate?

Steele Creek CDP has the lowest poverty rate at 1.1% (national average: 12.4%).

Explore More About Anchorage municipality

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