Anchorage
Alaska, USA
#4 in USA
85
Overall Score
VS
Enterprise
Alabama, USA
#36 in USA
68
Overall Score
Anchorage scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Anchorage
Enterprise
Livability
87
65
Affordability
68
85
Business
82
65
Growth
79
70
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Cost of Living

Enterprise is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 46% higher compared to Anchorage. Housing costs are a major driver: Anchorage's average rent is 30% higher than Enterprise's.
MetricAnchorageEnterpriseDiff
Average Rent
$1,950$1,495+30%
Groceries
$670$400+68%
Utilities
$310$260+19%
Transport
$240$120+100%
Healthcare
$520$250+108%
Monthly Total
$3,690$2,525+46%
Cost Index
11982out of 100

Salary & Income

Anchorage offers 77% higher average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Anchorage delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Anchorage is estimated at $79,000 vs $59,800 in Enterprise.
MetricAnchorageEnterprise
Average Salary
$84,000$47,412
Salary Needed
$79,000$59,800
Purchasing Power
70,588 idx57,820 idx
Household Income
$86,500$73,125

Climate Comparison

Anchorage runs warmer on average — a 37.5°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Anchorage comes out ahead with 126 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — Anchorage sees 79.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricAnchorageEnterprise
Avg Temp
37.50°F°F
Summer High
66.00°F°F
Winter Low
11.00°F°F
Rainfall
16.50 in in
Snowfall
79.20 in in
Sunny Days
126
Humidity
75.00%71.00%

Commute & Transport

Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other. Anchorage scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Anchorage leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricAnchorageEnterprise
Commute Time
20 min20 min
Transit Score
31.5/1010.0/10
Walkability
42.2/1019.0/10
Traffic Index
40.00
Car Dependency
HighHigh
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Economy & Demographics

Anchorage is the larger city — approximately 9.2x the population of Enterprise. From a growth perspective, Enterprise is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Enterprise has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricAnchorageEnterprise
Population
291,24731,698
Pop. Growth
0.70%1.56%
Median Age
34.536.5
Unemployment
5.20%2.30%
GDP
$57.0B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Anchorage
Advantages
Outdoor lifestyle opportunities
Drawbacks
Higher living costs
Enterprise
Advantages
The median rent in Enterprise is 23% below the national average, making housing more affordable.
Enterprise has a growing population, with a 1.56% annual growth rate in 2026.
The city's unemployment rate was 2.3% in April 2026, significantly lower than the national average.
Medical Center Enterprise earned an 'A' Hospital Safety Grade in Spring 2026, indicating high-quality healthcare services.
The city offers a newly renovated recreation center with modern fitness and aquatic facilities, enhancing community amenities.
Drawbacks
Enterprise has a low Walk Score of 19, indicating it is a car-dependent city with limited walkability.
Public transit options are very limited, with a low Transit Access score of 1/10.
Crime rates in Enterprise are reported to be higher than the national average, particularly for violent crimes.
Summers in Enterprise are long, hot, and oppressive, with high humidity levels.
Some online claims about the city's crime rate rely on outdated data, leading to potential misinformation.
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Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Anchorage
#4
Alaska, USA
84.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,950
Avg Salary
$84,000
Cost Index
119
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
31.5/10
Walkability
42.2/10
Sunny Days
126/yr
Avg Temp
37.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
87
Business
82
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Enterprise
#36
Alabama, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$47,412
Cost Index
82
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
10.0/10
Walkability
19.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.56%
Unemployment
2.30%
Livability
65
Business
65
View Full Profile

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