Best overall
Sitka City and Borough
Overall score 68.9
Economy 79.2 / Affordability 32.3
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Alaska
Compare counties in Alaska by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 34 Alaska counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Alaska
Put Alaska counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Alaska rankings
Open the full Alaska ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Alaska county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Skagway Municipality
Family score 79.1
Schools 99.7 / Safety 95
Best value
Aleutians East Borough
Value score 81.9
Affordability 85.3 / Taxes 100
Most affordable
Kusilvak Census Area
Affordability 89.7
Typical home $84,300
Best schools
Skagway Municipality
Schools 99.7
Safety 95 / Economy 49.2
Safest
Skagway Municipality
Safety 95
Schools 99.7 / Peace 87.1
Low taxes
Aleutians East Borough
Taxes 100
Affordability 85.3 / Typical home $135,500
Peace & quiet
Juneau City and Borough
Peace & Quiet 98.1
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Alaska
View full- 1Sitka City and Borough
Typical home $484,502
68.9
Overall
- 2Skagway Municipality
Typical home $435,400
65.9
Overall
- 3Aleutians West Census Area
Typical home $434,700
65.7
Overall
- 4Haines Borough
Typical home $328,740
64.4
Overall
- 5Bristol Bay Borough
Typical home $245,800
63.9
Overall
Best counties for families in Alaska
View full- 1Skagway Municipality
Typical home $435,400
79.1
Family
- 2Haines Borough
Typical home $328,740
74.7
Family
- 3Sitka City and Borough
Typical home $484,502
71.2
Family
- 4Wrangell City and Borough
Typical home $304,697
70.4
Family
- 5Denali Borough
Typical home $275,000
67.8
Family
Best value counties in Alaska
View full- 1Aleutians East Borough
Typical home $135,500
81.9
Value
- 2Kusilvak Census Area
Typical home $84,300
72.6
Value
- 3Bristol Bay Borough
Typical home $245,800
69.5
Value
- 4Sitka City and Borough
Typical home $484,502
67.5
Value
- 5Yakutat City and Borough
Typical home $219,400
66.4
Value
Most affordable counties in Alaska
View full- 1Kusilvak Census Area
Typical home $84,300
89.7
Afford.
- 2Aleutians East Borough
Typical home $135,500
85.3
Afford.
- 3Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Typical home $98,500
83.9
Afford.
- 4Bethel Census Area
Typical home $168,100
78.7
Afford.
- 5Dillingham Census Area
Typical home $159,000
77
Afford.
Best school counties in Alaska
View full- 1Skagway Municipality
Typical home $435,400
99.7
Schools
- 2Wrangell City and Borough
Typical home $304,697
95.9
Schools
- 3Petersburg Borough
Typical home $372,287
92.5
Schools
- 4Kenai Peninsula Borough
Typical home $335,456
81
Schools
- 5Haines Borough
Typical home $328,740
80.8
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Alaska
View full- 1Aleutians East Borough
Typical home $135,500
100
Taxes
- 2Copper River Census Area
Typical home $292,800
100
Taxes
- 3Kusilvak Census Area
Typical home $84,300
100
Taxes
- 4Bethel Census Area
Typical home $168,100
100
Taxes
- 5Northwest Arctic Borough
Typical home $199,100
100
Taxes
Quietest counties in Alaska
View full- 1Juneau City and Borough
Typical home $470,602
98.1
Quiet
- 2North Slope Borough
Typical home $315,435
95.9
Quiet
- 3Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Typical home $393,472
95.5
Quiet
- 4Aleutians East Borough
Typical home $135,500
94.8
Quiet
- 5Sitka City and Borough
Typical home $484,502
94.2
Quiet
Safest counties in Alaska
View full- 1Skagway Municipality
Typical home $435,400
95
Safety
- 2Haines Borough
Typical home $328,740
87.6
Safety
- 3Sitka City and Borough
Typical home $484,502
85
Safety
- 4Juneau City and Borough
Typical home $470,602
85
Safety
- 5Bristol Bay Borough
Typical home $245,800
83.1
Safety
Popular Alaska county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Alaska
The best county in Alaska depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Alaska
For best overall counties in Alaska, Sitka City and Borough, Skagway Municipality, and Aleutians West Census Area stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Alaska
For families, Skagway Municipality, Haines Borough, and Sitka City and Borough score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Alaska
For affordability-focused movers, Kusilvak Census Area, Aleutians East Borough, and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Alaska
For school-first households, Skagway Municipality, Wrangell City and Borough, and Petersburg Borough lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Alaska
For lower tax-pressure searches, Aleutians East Borough, Copper River Census Area, and Kusilvak Census Area score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Alaska
For quieter-living searches, Juneau City and Borough, North Slope Borough, and Ketchikan Gateway Borough stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Alaska
Compare county scale carefully in Alaska; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Alaska
What is the best county to live in Alaska?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Sitka City and Borough currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Alaska for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Skagway Municipality stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Alaska?
Kusilvak Census Area scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Alaska counties score well for schools or taxes?
Skagway Municipality currently leads the school-score view, while Aleutians East Borough stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Alaska counties
Showing all 34 Alaska counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sitka City and Borough FIPS 02220 | 68.9 | 79.2 | 32.3 | 73.5 | 85 | 88.4 | 94.2 | $484,502 | $101,727 |
| 2 | Skagway Municipality FIPS 02230 | 65.9 | 49.2 | 23.7 | 99.7 | 95 | 91.1 | 87.1 | $435,400 | $81,136 |
| 3 | Aleutians West Census Area FIPS 02016 | 65.7 | 76.6 | 48.2 | 72.3 | 55 | 73.7 | 88.5 | $434,700 | $135,500 |
| 4 | Haines Borough FIPS 02100 | 64.4 | 44.4 | 51.1 | 80.8 | 87.6 | 69.1 | 86.1 | $328,740 | $86,927 |
| 5 | Bristol Bay Borough FIPS 02060 | 63.9 | 59.9 | 63.8 | 46.8 | 83.1 | 68.8 | 85.7 | $245,800 | $95,625 |
| 6 | Aleutians East Borough FIPS 02013 | 63.7 | 45 | 85.3 | 28.2 | 71.8 | 100 | 94.8 | $135,500 | $65,365 |
| 7 | Juneau City and Borough FIPS 02110 | 61.3 | 71.2 | 37.2 | 55.7 | 85 | 53.7 | 98.1 | $470,602 | $101,661 |
| 8 | Matanuska-Susitna Borough FIPS 02170 | 60.3 | 65.2 | 44.3 | 59.9 | 73.5 | - | 77.5 | $401,224 | $94,031 |
| 9 | Denali Borough FIPS 02068 | 59.6 | 56.4 | 54.3 | 79.7 | 67.8 | 15 | 85.6 | $275,000 | $80,781 |
| 10 | Wrangell City and Borough FIPS 02275 | 59.3 | 40.3 | 34.4 | 95.9 | 59.5 | 79.4 | 90.6 | $304,697 | $63,750 |
| 11 | Copper River Census Area FIPS 02066 | 57.9 | 44.6 | 51 | - | 58 | 100 | 75 | $292,800 | $79,250 |
| 12 | Petersburg Borough FIPS 02195 | 57.4 | 43.6 | 30.8 | 92.5 | 50.8 | 81.9 | 90 | $372,287 | $75,125 |
| 13 | Chugach Census Area FIPS 02063 | 56.1 | 48.8 | 47.7 | - | 73.4 | 52.8 | 89.7 | $346,200 | $90,509 |
| 14 | Ketchikan Gateway Borough FIPS 02130 | 56 | 65.3 | 43.9 | 57.4 | 34.7 | 72.8 | 95.5 | $393,472 | $92,885 |
| 15 | Kenai Peninsula Borough FIPS 02122 | 54.6 | 49.5 | 47.5 | 81 | 14.6 | 76.9 | 86 | $335,456 | $80,538 |
| 16 | Yakutat City and Borough FIPS 02282 | 51.7 | 41.8 | 65 | 18.8 | 60.4 | 79 | 85.7 | $219,400 | $85,000 |
| 17 | North Slope Borough FIPS 02185 | 50.6 | 74.9 | 56.8 | 0.4 | 37.5 | 72.1 | 95.9 | $315,435 | $95,694 |
| 18 | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area FIPS 02240 | 50.3 | 53.1 | 55.6 | 30.5 | 57.9 | 39.4 | 88.3 | $287,767 | $73,882 |
| 19 | Fairbanks North Star Borough FIPS 02090 | 49.8 | 68.5 | 58.1 | 46.7 | 0 | 42 | 91.6 | $303,371 | $88,267 |
| 20 | Anchorage Municipality FIPS 02020 | 49.2 | 70.5 | 45.6 | 59.4 | 3.2 | 37 | 83.2 | $423,068 | $103,284 |
| 21 | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area FIPS 02198 | 45.5 | 24.3 | 58.7 | 18.7 | 52.7 | 85.8 | 90.4 | $225,300 | $61,156 |
| 22 | Hoonah-Angoon Census Area FIPS 02105 | 45.3 | 45.3 | 46.1 | 7.5 | 51.3 | 89.3 | 85.7 | $262,800 | $61,406 |
| 23 | Kusilvak Census Area FIPS 02158 | 44.9 | 10.3 | 89.7 | 0 | 35 | 100 | 93.7 | $84,300 | $51,471 |
| 24 | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area FIPS 02290 | 44.5 | 27 | 83.9 | 2.2 | 42.9 | 55.9 | 85.7 | $98,500 | $55,741 |
| 25 | Kodiak Island Borough FIPS 02150 | 43.3 | 49.6 | 35.3 | 46.7 | 18 | 54 | 92.6 | $395,260 | $86,250 |
| 26 | Lake and Peninsula Borough FIPS 02164 | 40.7 | 39.2 | 53.5 | 20 | 51.5 | 15 | 85.7 | $237,500 | $65,625 |
| 27 | Bethel Census Area FIPS 02050 | 40.2 | 21.8 | 78.7 | 0 | 2.9 | 100 | 93.1 | $168,100 | $73,996 |
| 28 | Northwest Arctic Borough FIPS 02188 | 40 | 30.3 | 72.3 | 0.3 | 0 | 100 | 86.7 | $199,100 | $84,018 |
| 29 | Valdez-Cordova Census Area FIPS 02261 | 37.3 | 11.3 | 47.1 | 59.3 | 35 | - | - | $314,887 | Data incomplete |
| 30 | Nome Census Area FIPS 02180 | 37.2 | 33.1 | 69.2 | 0.8 | 31.4 | 23.7 | 87.7 | $211,200 | $78,681 |
| 31 | Dillingham Census Area FIPS 02070 | 35.2 | 28.9 | 77 | 0.6 | 5.6 | - | 85.7 | $159,000 | $78,533 |
| 32 | Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area FIPS 02201 | 28.5 | 24.6 | - | - | 35 | - | - | Data incomplete | Data incomplete |
| 33 | Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census Area FIPS 02232 | 24.7 | 18.5 | - | - | 35 | - | - | Data incomplete | Data incomplete |
| 34 | Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area FIPS 02280 | 18.8 | 9 | - | - | 35 | - | - | Data incomplete | Data incomplete |