Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Alaska instead of Minnesota, you would:
Health
live 2.5 years less
In Minnesota, the average life expectancy is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020. In Alaska, that number is 77 years (76 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
make 10.8% more money
Minnesota has a GDP per capita of $68,478 as of 2024, while in Alaska, the GDP per capita is $75,882 as of 2024.
be 16.3% more likely to be unemployed
In Minnesota, 4.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Alaska, that number is 5.0% as of 2025.
be 12.5% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Minnesota, 8.8% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Alaska, however, that number is 9.9% as of 2023.
Safety
be 2.8 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Minnesota has a violent crime rate of 257 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Alaska, that number is 722 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 11.5% more likely to be a victim of property crime
Minnesota has a property crime rate of 1,675 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Alaska, that number is 1,868 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 12.4% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Minnesota is $1,235 as of 2023, while in Alaska, it is $1,388 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 3.6 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Minnesota takes 23.1 minutes as of 2023. In Alaska, it takes 19.5 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 98.2% less densely populated
Minnesota has a population density of 27.9 people per sq km as of 2023. In Alaska, that number is 0.5 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 2.4 times more likely to be uninsured
In Minnesota, 4.5% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Alaska, that number is 10.7% as of 2023.
be 20.9% more likely to smoke
In Minnesota, 13.9% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Alaska, that number is 16.8% as of 2022.
be 15.4% more likely to be physically inactive
In Minnesota, 19.5% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Alaska, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 3.0 years older on average
The median age in Minnesota is 38.6 years as of 2023. In Alaska, the median age is 35.6 years as of 2023.
be 20.4% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Minnesota, 26.0% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Alaska, that number is 20.7% as of 2023.
be 14.3% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Minnesota, 3.5% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Alaska, that number is 3.0% as of 2023.
be 58.2% more likely to be food insecure
In Minnesota, 6.7% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Alaska, that number is 10.6% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, 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.
