Anchorage has something for everyone with its beautiful landscape, thriving and exciting metropolitan atmosphere, bustling economy and diverse community.

Anchorage Real Estate

Anchorage is among Alaska’s most vibrant and ethnically diverse cities. Located in south-central Alaska, Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city. With a 2004 estimated population of nearly 273,000, the city holds over two-fifths of the state’s population. As more and more people are discovering this amazing city, they are relocating here to enjoy its natural beauty, culturally diverse community and successful economy.

Diverse Community

Anchorage is among the most diverse cities in the nation. During the city’s history it has drawn immigrants from around the world, and Anchorage has large Asian, Eastern European, African American and Hispanic populations. In fact, within the Anchorage School District, the students speak a range of 95 languages. The Anchorage School District is the 86th largest school district in the country, with an enrollment of nearly 50,000 students. The schools pride themselves on a diverse faculty and a great variety of program offerings which set high standards for all the students.

Anchorage also offers several housing options, ranging from condos to homes to town homes. The median home value is about $161,000 according to the 2000 Census. A perk of living in a quiet residential Anchorage neighborhood is that all of them have a view of the Chugach Mountains. They are also conveniently located only 10 to 15 minutes away from a vibrant downtown area.

Exciting City

Anchorage is a great place to live because it has an unbeatable quality of life. The city offers plentiful shopping, exciting nightlife, local entertainment, museums and parks. Anchorage has more than 162 parks which allow for several outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, boating, skiing, hiking, swimming, biking and hunting. Some notable landmarks in the city are the George Sullivan Sports Arena, Egan Convention Center and the Alaska Performing Arts Center, all of which host various local entertainment programs.

Because of its culturally diverse community, the city offers a great variety of fine dining and restaurants. Although there is a little bit of everything in the town, Anchorage is most famous for its fresh Alaskan seafood.

Growing Economy

When looking at a place to live, one of the most important factors that comes into play is the city’s economy and available job opportunities. Anchorage excels in both areas.

Anchorage is a thriving city that is the transportation hub for the state. It is not only the central location for airlines, but also serves as a major port that receives more than 95 percent of all the freight entering the state. It is the hub of the well known Alaska Railroad, which carries both cargo and passengers.

The two major industries in the area are petroleum and tourism. Aside from oil and gas, many other industries have their headquarters in Anchorage as well, such as transportation, finance, real estate and communications agencies. With all these corporate headquarters in the area there are numerous job opportunities for everyone. Tourism in Anchorage is typically high during summers as people come to enjoy the mountains and parks of Alaska and swarm the shops and restaurants of downtown. Tourists create a need for more seasonal jobs, allowing for more employment options in the city.

Anchorage is also home to two important U.S. military bases, Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base, which employs over 8,500 people.

Visit Alaska

The city of Anchorage has several great characteristics which appeal to many families. It is a great place to live due to its culturally diverse community, excellent education system, abundant attractions and ever-growing economy.

By Naureen Kamdar

A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®