Quality of life comparison
If you lived in New York instead of Alaska, you would:
Health
live 1.1 years longer
In Alaska, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In New York, that number is 78 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020.
be 16.1% more likely to have diabetes
In Alaska, 8.7% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In New York, that number is 10.1% as of 2022.
Economy
make 21.2% more money
Alaska has a GDP per capita of $75,882 as of 2024, while in New York, the GDP per capita is $91,992 as of 2024.
be 12.0% less likely to be unemployed
In Alaska, 5.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In New York, that number is 4.4% as of 2025.
be 34.3% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Alaska, 9.9% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In New York, however, that number is 13.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 47.2% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Alaska has a violent crime rate of 722 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In New York, that number is 381 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 20.9% more for a home
The median home value in Alaska is $333,300 as of 2023, compared to $403,000 in New York as of 2023.
pay 13.5% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Alaska is $1,388 as of 2023, while in New York, it is $1,576 as of 2023.
be 18.5% less likely to own your home
In Alaska, 66.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In New York, that number is 54.3% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 53.3% less likely to be uninsured
In Alaska, 10.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In New York, that number is 5.0% as of 2023.
be 23.8% less likely to smoke
In Alaska, 16.8% of adults smoke as of 2022. In New York, that number is 12.8% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 4.0 years older on average
The median age in Alaska is 35.6 years as of 2023. In New York, the median age is 39.6 years as of 2023.
be 33.8% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Alaska, 20.7% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In New York, that number is 27.7% as of 2023.
be 3.0 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Alaska, 3.0% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In New York, that number is 9.1% as of 2023.
commute 13.3 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Alaska takes 19.5 minutes as of 2023. In New York, it takes 32.8 minutes as of 2023.
be 11.6% more likely to be physically inactive
In Alaska, 22.5% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In New York, that number is 25.1% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 322.8 times more densely populated
Alaska has a population density of 0.5 people per sq km as of 2023. In New York, that number is 161.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
