Alaska has stunning natural beauty, a lot of different cultures, and lots of animals that are doing well. Still, not every part of the state is as safe and comfortable to live in as others. Some areas have high crime rates, poverty, and social problems, which makes them less desirable places to live. We will look at five of Alaska’s worst neighborhoods in this piece, using data and statistics from a number of different sources.
Mountain View, Anchorage
In recent years, Mountain View in northeast Anchorage has gotten a bad name for being one of the most dangerous and troubled places in the state. The FBI said that there were 2,055 serious crimes for every 100,000 people living there in 2019. This was the highest rate of any city in Alaska. In addition to this worrying number, the neighborhood also faces big problems like poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and drug abuse.
There are a lot of problems with the economy in Mountain View. The typical household income is only $38,571, which is a lot less than the state average of $77,640. The area also has a lot of different cultures because it is home to many immigrants and refugees from different countries.
Kotzebue
The town of Kotzebue is in the northwest of Alaska and is an important hub for the nearby villages. For whatever reason, the city faces big problems with crime, the business, and the environment. With 1,787 violent crimes per 100,000 people, Kotzebue had the second highest violent crime rate in Alaska in 2019.
The city is also having a hard time financially, as shown by its 13.9% jobless rate, which is higher than the state average of 6.1%. Kotzebue is also very vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as floods, coastal erosion, and the melting of permafrost.
Wasilla
Wasilla is a city in southcentral Alaska that is best known as the place where Sarah Palin grew up. Palin was governor of Alaska and ran for vice president. Even though Wasilla has a good name, it is one of the worst places to live in Alaska because of its bad image.
With 1,254 violent crimes per 100,000 people, Wasilla had the fourth-highest violent crime rate in Alaska in 2019. The city also has a very high rate of property crime—6,179 cases per 100,000 people, which is more than three times the average for the state of 1,907.
Aside from worries about safety, Wasilla also has problems with school. Only 14.4% of adults in the city have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is a low amount of education.
Nome
Nome is a city in western Alaska with a long past. It is famous for its role in the gold rush and as the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Despite this, it faces major problems, which makes it one of the worst places to live in Alaska.
Notably, Nome has a high rate of violent crime—1,239 incidents per 100,000 people in 2019—making it the fifth most violent city in the state. The city also has a relatively high poverty rate (18.8%), which is higher than the state average of 10.1%. Nome also has a very low quality of life index, which is affected by things like healthcare, schooling, safety, and the environment as a whole.
Fairview, Anchorage
Anchorage’s Fairview neighborhood is notorious for being a dangerous and unpleasant place to live. With 1,211 crimes against every 100,000 people, it has the sixth highest serious crime rate in Alaska, according to data from 2019.
It’s also scary how many property crimes there are: 5,874 crimes per 100,000 people, which is more than three times the state average of 1,907. Fairview has problems with both crime and the economy. The typical household income is only $41,250, which is less than the state average of $77,640. The neighborhood also has a lot of people living in a small area, which makes it crowded.
In conclusion
People who live in Alaska and people who visit can find a lot of things to do and see. Still, the safety and livability of its different areas are very different. Some neighborhoods are less desirable as places to live because they have high crime rates, poverty, and social problems.
Using data and statistics from a number of different sources, this piece looks at five of Alaska’s most difficult neighborhoods. Mountain View, Kotzebue, Wasilla, Nome, and Fairview are the areas that are being looked at. Our goal is to give you useful information that will help you make smart choices about where to live or visit in Alaska.