Anchorage AK vs Jonesboro AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Anchorage, AK

Alaska · Population: 289,069

Median HH Income$98,152
Median Home Price$414,014
Unemployment4.6%
Bachelor's+37.7%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Anchorage

289,069

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Anchorage

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Anchorage

34.9

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Anchorage

10.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Anchorage

58.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Anchorage

5.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Anchorage

9.8%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Anchorage

9.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Anchorage

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	289,069	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.9	N/A	-
Foreign Born	10.9%	N/A	-
White	58.3%	N/A	-
Black	5.3%	N/A	-
Asian	9.8%	N/A	-
Hispanic	9.3%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Anchorage

$98,152

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Anchorage

$49,338

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Anchorage

$69,233

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Anchorage

4.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Anchorage

9.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Anchorage

37.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$98,152	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$49,338	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$69,233	$53,714	Anchorage +
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	9.3%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	37.7%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Anchorage

$414,014

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Homeownership Rate

Anchorage

63.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$414,014	$225,577	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	63.7%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Anchorage

780

Jonesboro

660

Jonesboro +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Anchorage

1849

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	780	660	Jonesboro +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1849	2507	Anchorage +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Anchorage

35.2%

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Anchorage

9.0%

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

11.4%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Anchorage

16.4%

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Anchorage

9.7%

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

11.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Anchorage

18.0%

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Anchorage

14.4%

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	35.2%	39.2%	Anchorage +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	9.0%	11.4%	Anchorage +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.4%	20.5%	Anchorage +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	9.7%	11.6%	Anchorage +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	18.0%	15.1%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.4%	15.7%	Anchorage +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Anchorage

37.0°F

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Anchorage

16.7 in

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	37.0°F	59.2°F	Anchorage +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	16.7 in	48.2 in	Anchorage +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Anchorage

7.6 µg/m³

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Anchorage

75.0%

Anchorage +

Jonesboro

55.0%

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.6 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Anchorage +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Anchorage +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Anchorage

20.4 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Anchorage, AK	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	20.4 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Jonesboro is safer with a violent crime rate of 660 per 100,000 residents, compared to 780 in Anchorage. Anchorage has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Anchorage scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.2%.

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About Anchorage & Jonesboro

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