01 · the cities
Anchorage
Anchorage is the city where moose sometimes wander into downtown, the Chugach Mountains tower right behind your office, and summer days run 19 hours long. The Iditarod sled-dog race kicks off from here every March. The food scene leans heavily on the world-class salmon and halibut coming off the boats. Winter brings the northern lights flickering above the mountains and the kind of quiet you only find this far north. Wild edge.
full dispatch→Fresno
Fresno sits at the heart of the most productive farm region in the world, with almonds, grapes, and stone fruit stretching to every horizon. It's the gateway to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon (three of the country's best national parks all under two hours away). The food scene leans on incredible local produce and a deep Mexican and Hmong food culture. Underrated.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,713/mo
$1,999/mo
$286/mo more than Anchorage (14%)
Median home price
Median home price
$438k
$418k
$21k less than Anchorage
State income tax
State income tax
0%
9.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,620/mo
$5,559/mo
Anchorage has $1,061/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
93 days
206 days
113 more than Anchorage
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
107 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
91 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Fresno has 107 more days above 95°F each year than Anchorage. Anchorage drops below 20°F on 91 more days per year than Fresno.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
66 / 100
2.0 pts behind Anchorage
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
34 routes
11 routes
23 fewer direct routes than Anchorage
Metro size
Metro size
401k metro
1.2M metro
the verdict
6
Anchorage
categories won
3
Fresno
categories won
Anchorage wins on money and lifestyle. Fresno has the edge on weather.
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