Rows tagged local are specific to North Lakes (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from Anchorage, AK. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 5/10 (district Matanuska-susitna Borough School District · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
106.8
metro-area
#178 of 200 metros
Grocery index (US=100)
104.5
metro-area
#170 of 200 metros
Big Mac price (est.)
$6.08
metro-area
#178 of 200 metros
Median household income
$95,556
local
#1206 of 3,220 cities
Median wage (all occupations)
$52,731
local
#1004 of 3,220 cities
Who lives here
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median age
35.4 years
metro-area
#34 of 200 metros
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)
34.0%
metro-area
#96 of 200 metros
Foreign-born residents
8.7%
metro-area
#92 of 200 metros
Homes that are owner-occupied
67.2%
metro-area
#88 of 200 metros
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
7.01%
local
#2619 of 3,220 cities
Population growth (5-yr)
-0.0%
local
#2357 of 3,220 cities
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$311,300
local
#1471 of 3,220 cities
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
3.3×
local
#1051 of 3,220 cities
1-yr home appreciation
+5.7%
metro-area
#12 of 200 metros
Price per square foot
$173
local
#1507 of 3,220 cities
Typical home size (implied)
1,800 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$1,248
local
#1107 of 3,220 cities
Homes for sale (inventory)
945
Median days on market
5
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
4.6%
state
#1 of 200 metros
Combined sales tax
1.82%
state
#5 of 200 metros
State income tax (top rate)
None
Capital gains tax
None
state
#1 of 200 metros
High earners
No special surtax
Social Security in retirement
Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate
1.15%
local
#1986 of 3,220 cities
Median property tax paid
$3,588
local
#1553 of 3,220 cities
Health & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Life expectancy at birth
76.3 years
metro-area
#108 of 200 metros
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$9,500
state
#200 of 200 metros
Uninsured (share of residents)
12.8%
metro-area
#164 of 200 metros
Primary care providers per 100k
97
metro-area
#20 of 200 metros
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$12,000
state
#110 of 200 metros
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$100
state
#83 of 200 metros
Vehicle property tax (annual)
None
state
#1 of 200 metros
Emissions testing
Not required
Emissions detail
No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices
9
Avg commute to work
30 min
local
#2213 of 3,220 cities
Commute by driving alone
71.4%
metro-area
#52 of 200 metros
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min
22.7%
metro-area
#26 of 200 metros
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
27.4¢/kWh
state
#163 of 200 metros
Avg monthly electric bill
$246
state
#163 of 200 metros
Gasoline
$3.90/gal
state
#169 of 200 metros
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$68
state
#94 of 200 metros
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$164
state
#178 of 200 metros
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$110
state
#200 of 200 metros
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$1,000
state
#4 of 200 metros
Auto insurance (annual)
$1,300
state
#9 of 200 metros
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Notable hazards: earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)
96.3 — Relatively High
metro-area
#158 of 200 metros
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$650
state
#41 of 200 metros
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$800
state
#181 of 200 metros
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
26
metro-area
#4 of 200 metros
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
0
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Homes with air conditioning (state)
7%
state
#198 of 200 metros
Heating degree-days (heat load)
10,000
metro-area
#200 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 90°F
0
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 100°F
0
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Avg summer high (state)
65°F
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Avg winter low
5°F
metro-area
#197 of 200 metros
Annual precipitation
16.6"
metro-area
#34 of 200 metros
Annual snowfall
74.0"
metro-area
#196 of 200 metros
Sunshine (% of possible)
41%
metro-area
#199 of 200 metros
Plant hardiness zone
4a
Frost window
05-25 → 09-20
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
760
state
#198 of 200 metros
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
2,800
state
#172 of 200 metros
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
16
metro-area
#190 of 200 metros
Parks
38
Hiking areas
32
Golf courses
16
Shooting ranges
8
Lakes
13
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
2
state
#1 of 200 metros
Permit detail
Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.