Welcome to Alaska

Your life in the Last Frontier begins

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Welcome to Alaska

Alaska truly lives up to its nickname of The Last Frontier. The vast wilderness of America's largest state draws adventurers and those that seek a more rustic lifestyle amid the snow. Rich in natural resources from fisheries to oil, Alaska is an important strategic resource for the United States. Living in remote parts of Alaska can often be challenging, and enduring winters test even the most hardened. However more than half of the state's population lives in and around Anchorage, the state's biggest city. In Anchorage, residents can enjoy living in an increasingly diverse community with all the cultural and entertainment amenities you could hope for.

Are you ready to start a new life outside of the lower 48? Keep reading to learn all you need to know to prepare for a move to Alaska.

Alaska Self-Storage Facts

Self-storage is a hot commodity in Alaska as exiting inventory per capita lags behind the national average. The Alaska self-storage sector offers 4.64 square feet of storage space per capita, which is well below the national average of 5.4 square feet per person. This suggests that the Alaskan self-storage is undersupplied, which means availability may be limited and prices may be elevated in some markets. A trend of self-storage development has recently taken place nationwide, with Alaska seeing some new investment in self-storage facilities as a result.

Here's some data points that illustrate just how big self-storage is in Alaska:

Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in Alaska:

101

Alaska is home to more than 101 self-storage facilities.

3,171,433

Alaska self-storage facilities provide more than 3,171,433 square feet of storage space.

4.64

Alaska has 4.64 square feet of self-storage space for every person in the state.

Reasons to Move to Alaska

Moving to Alaska is a huge decision. If you are thinking about moving to Alaska, you might want to see if any of the reasons below appeal to you first.

1

Get that money. Yes, it's true. Alaska really will pay you to live there. Full-time residents are eligible to receive an annual royalty from the state's Permanent Fund Dividend, which is funded by the state's oil production.

2

The Northern Lights will blow your mind. Living in Alaska you'll have a chance to witness the aurora borealis, a phenomenon most likely to be seen from Fairbanks and north of the Arctic Circle between September and late April.

3

You're ready to hit your highest peak. Spend some time in Denali National Park, where you can witness, and perhaps even climb, North America's highest mountaintop.

4

The State Fair is kind of a big deal. Every year around Labor Day, Alaskans from all over the state descend upon around Palmer for the Alaska State Fair. You'll go for the amazing fried foods, touring bands, and to reconnect with far flung friends.

5

Small town life appeals to you. While half of Alaskans live near Anchorage, most of the other half depend on the community and resources provided by tight knit small towns.

6

You're a Salmon fanatic. Head over to Kenai for one of the best places to go and catch giant salmon.

7

You can really get lost. Many people come to Alaska's remote areas come to start a new life, or be as far away as they can from other people. The state is the most sparsely populated in the union, which means you can truly disappear, if that's what you want.

8

No sales or income tax. There is no sales tax or income tax in Alaska, which is a boon for many residents. Be forewarned that property taxes are higher as a result.

9

You love to explore. Alaska might be desolate, but if that's your thing you'll never run out of things to do. From the former gold mine found at Treadwell Ruins, to the Kennicott ghost town to abandoned military installations--Alaska is full of interesting remnants of the past worth discovering.

10

More room for activities. Speaking of exploring, there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy in Alaska that you'll quickly want to adapt to the cold weather. Whether its skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling or dog sledding--you'll spend plenty of time in the great outdoors.

Moving to Alaska

Alaska is the biggest state at 663,267 square miles. That's about three times the state of Texas. It is also the third least populated state with around 735,720 people. Alaska saw a slight decline in population from 2018 to 2019, less than a quarter of a percent drop. While growth may have stalled last year, the state is estimated to have grown more than three percent since 2010. Alaska is a land of extreme cold and an abnormal daylight calendar due to its proximity to the North Pole. If those aren't deal breakers for you, then you might just be ready for the Last Frontier.

Alaska Economic Outlook

The Alaskan economy is driven by energy, fisheries, and tourism. It has the 48th lowest GDP in the country at $55 billion. But don't let that statistic fool you, the state has the fourth highest GDP per capita, at $63,971 per head. Alaska residents are among the richest in the country, ranked seventeenth in 2018 in terms of average personal income for residents of $73,000 annually. Alaska has a high unemployment rate relative to the rest of the nation, at 6.2 percent as of September 2019.

Below, you'll find a breakdown of Alaska' largest sectors by share of GDP:

24 percent
Minerals (mostly oil)
19 percent
Government
11 percent
Financial Activities
10 percent
Transportation and Warehousing
7 percent
Professional and Business Services

Alabama is looking at a job growth rate of 1.2 percent and is expected to add about 25,000 new jobs through 2020. Construction is a huge growth area for the state and the automotive industry is also growing with 4,000 new jobs expected to be added throughout 2021 thanks to building plans for new plants. Furthermore, Amazon is expected to create 1,500 new jobs in a Birmingham fulfillment center. Alabama has a cost of living score of 88.6, which means it's cheaper than the national average. Housing costs are also significantly lower than the national average.

Who are Alaska's Largest Employers?

EMPLOYER
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Fort Wainwright Credit Union in Wainwright
7,500
Bristol Bay Native in Anchorage
4,869
Chugach Alaska in Anchorage
4,822
Afognak Native in Kodiak
4,450
Anchorage School District in Anchorage
10,336

Places to live in Alaska

Living in Alaska can get kind of lonely, for some thatº's why they like it. For others at least there are a few towns and cities that can provide community and things to do.

Here is a quick look at the state's three most populous places to live:

Anchorage

The city of Anchorage is actually pretty decently sized, with 291,538 residents making up the populations of Alaska's largest city. More than 40 percent of Alaskans live in Anchorage, which gives you a good idea how sparsely populated the rest of the state is. Settled around a railroad camp around 1914, Anchorage developed on the back of its thriving industry. It is also a key refueling stop for cargo planes embarking to and from the United States to other locations around the world. Anchorage residents have a median income of $78,121, much higher than the national average of $53,482.

Cost of living
28 percent higher than the national average
Median home price
$318,000
Average rent
$1025/month
Average apartment size
697 square feet

Fairbanks

Fairbanks is a home rule city and is the largest city in Alaska's Interior region with more than 31,000 people. Fairbanks is also the northernmost metropolitan statistical area in the United States, located less than 200 miles from the Arctic Circle.

Cost of living
22 percent higher than the national average
Median home price
$385,000
Average rent
$1,105/month

Juneau

Juneau, capital of Alaska, also has just over 31,000 people. Despite being connected to the mainland, the city isn't connected to the rest of the state by road and can only be accessed by air and sea. You'll have to take your car on the ferry to drive in and out.

Cost of living
33 percent higher than the national average
Median home price
$223,875
Average rent
$1,244/month

Moving to Alaska Resources