The 10 Safest Cities In Alaska For 2024

The safest cities in Alaska are Haines and Valdez for 2024 using Saturday Night Science.

HomeSnacks is at it again: we've used concrete data and empirical evidence to bring you a list of the safest places to live in Alaska for 2024.

But, first things first, how did we determine the safest places in Alaska? We consulted the latest FBI data on places in The Last Frontier with more than 2,000 residents. We looked at two factors: violent and property crime rates per capita. We ended up looking through 23 Alaska places to determine the safest of the safe.

What is not surprising, however, is that Alaska has super-safe neighborhoods and schools, and the state also has super-safe activities. We recommend that you wear a helmet when you go skiing in Anchorage, that you wear a life jacket when you go kayaking in Kodiak, or that you wear hunter orange when your out hunting Elk in Fairbanks. We wouldn't want you to become a statistic.

So, where are these unique places in Alaska where crime is low, jobs are plentiful, and neighborhoods and schools are safe? Read on.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table

Here are the 10 safest cities to live in Alaska for 2024:

  1. Haines (Homes For Sale)
  2. Valdez (Homes For Sale)
  3. Sitka (Homes For Sale)
  4. Cordova (Homes For Sale)
  5. Unalaska (Homes For Sale)
  6. Petersburg (Homes For Sale)
  7. Ketchikan (Homes For Sale)
  8. Kodiak (Homes For Sale)
  9. Bethel (Homes For Sale)
  10. North Slope Borough (Homes For Sale)
Safest Cities In Alaska Map

So, what is the number one safest place in Alaska? The safest place to live in Alaska is Haines.

If you want to see how Alaska's other amazing cities faired, take a look at the list below. And if you don't see your favorite there, head to the bottom for a complete list.

For more reading on safe places to live in and around Alaska, check out:

The 10 Safest Cities In Alaska For 2024

1. Haines
Haines, AK
Source: Flickr User jerseygal2009 | CC BY-ND 2.0

Population: 2,058
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 48 (safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 388 (fourth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Haines: Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

Where the Alaska Panhandle meets the Chilkat Inlet near Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is Haines. This town, where the only crimes being committed might be a flannel or carhart fashion faux pas, is our firstsafest city in Alaska.

Haines is also known for its safe, family friendly atmosphere. There is a ton of stuff to do in this little town with only 2,058 residents in the middle of The Adventure Capital of Alaska. They have a bald eagle festival in the Fall, they have the longest running beer festival; and for the adventurous type, you can raft the Chilkat River or hike the Takshanuk Mountains when frostbite is not an issue.

Haines is the kind of place where one can safely cruise the roads on snowmobiles, dog sleds, snowshoes, and x-country skis.

Valdez, AK
Source: Wikipedia User Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 3,839
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 104 (fourth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 364 (third safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Valdez: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Welcome to our second safest city in Alaska: Valdez. This old gold rush town located in the pan of the Alaskan Panhandle is home to the most important fishing, oil, and freight terminal in Alaska. Hardworking Alaskan roots run deep in this corner of the country. So not surprising they scored an 8/10 for safe, accessible jobs based on our calculations.

Valdez is every outdoor enthusiasts dream with the Prince William Sound and Chugach Mountain glaciers at the tip of its border. Just don't try cruising down those glaciers without a sled, that wouldn't be safe and that would hurt. And if you don't like people peeping through your windows, you don't have to worry because there's plenty of room in Valdez. And if you love nature, it can be found as close as your backyard. Really. We're not joking. No tricks, it is one of the safest cities to call home on our list.

Sitka, AK
Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 8,392
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 95 (third safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 428 (fifth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Sitka: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7.5
/10

Flip on your snowmobile hazards, slap a fluorescent orange safety jacket on that gigantic grizzly bear, and call Sitka, Alaska safe: our sixth safest city to be exact. It might not be Juneau, but this little town with a vibrant downtown scene, unforgettable summer festivals, and year-round fun is just as notable and just as safe. Probably why it's one of the most populous towns on Baranof Island.

This little piece of heaven in the 907 is another one of our family friendly, safe cities nestled inside the Alaskan Panhandle. It boasts convenient restaurants and stores and an occasional ice fishing competition or two. It's a great place to raise a family. And word on the street is that young professionals are starting to take notice and move Sitka's direction to be a part of the strongest seafood industry in the USA. So don't wait, because the word is out.

And if you love winter, you can get snow here as early as July. To safely maneuver Sitka's wild frontier, make sure you get the best snow tires, winter boots, and fleece jacket, because you're gonna need 'em.

Cordova, AK
Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0

Population: 2,160
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 185 (seventh safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 277 (second safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Cordova: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Welcome to Cordova, our fourth safest city in Alaska. It's so safe in this little village at the head of the Orca Inlet, that the wolves, coyotes, and bears are always howling and growling at the residents reminding them to get home before dark. Thanks furry friends!

Nestled at the mouth of the Copper River in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Cordova offers a safe environment with small town charm that packs a big punch. Not literally, of course. No fighting happens here; that wouldn't be safe. Not to mention there are a lot of hunters, here, if ya know what we mean.

With a little over 2,000 residents, the superb quality of life in this little village in the Chugcah National Forest, formerly known as the "Razor Capital of the World, and currently known as "The Crossroads of Alaska," is the reason that it is our fourthsafest city in Alaska for 2024.

Unalaska, AK
Source: Public domain

Population: 3,908
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 127 (fifth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 486 (sixth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Unalaska: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Unalaska is the ideal destination when you're trying find that true rugged frontier feel with small city vibes. We're not sure if it's where the polar bears roam, but we do know that it's safe enough to let your children roam. And this is definitely one of the reasons it's hanging strong as our fifth safest city in The Last Frontier.

There's a true sense of community in this quaint village in the Aleutian Islands. The residents, here, look out for each other. Unalaska's gold star qualities like the non-existent number of crimes, their large number of educated residents, and just their overall safety standards, speaks volumes. Yes, Unalaska, you truly offer a better life.

Unalaska is known for its strong housing market, unbreakable economy, and overall affordability. Do we think it has something to do with the abundance of fish in the waters? Probably. One thing we do know for sure, however, is that there is a true sense of safety and community in this little village in Aleutian Islands.

6. Petersburg
Petersburg, AK
Source: Flickr User Ryan Erickson | CC BY 2.0

Population: 3,314
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 60 (second safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,176 (13th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Petersburg: Real Estate

In Petersburg they love their wide open spaces, their parks, their super safe neighborhoods, and they take pride in keeping their residents safe.

This true-to-definition Alaskan city is our sixth safest city. It's a place where work and play meet at our northwest Canadian-American border. Petersburg's small town charm delivers big opportunities to all that are searching for a safe, not scary, place to call home. Heck, they scored off the charts in safety on our snackability scale.

Petersburg's slogan should be: "Where It's Happening". According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the town is the 15th most lucrative fisheries port in the United States by volume. So, if safe, family friendly, economically sound communities that are happenin', is your cup of tea, you better hurry because Petersburg's homes are sellin' like hotcakes.,

The residents in Petersburg look out for each other. It is evident in their gold star qualities like the virtually non-existent number of crimes last year, their large number of educated residents, and just their overall safety standards.

Ketchikan, AK
Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 7,953
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 163 (sixth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 930 (tenth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Ketchikan: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

Ketchikan, recognized as the seventh safest city in Alaska and the earliest extant incorporated city in the state, prides itself on having 0 murders and a low 163/100k people violent crime per capita rate. The city's efficient police force is crucial in maintaining its low #6 rank for total crime and excellent property crime rank of #10.

Situated on Revillagigedo Island as the southeasternmost major settlement, Ketchikan's strategic location along the Inside Passage and its rich history, underscored by the most extensive collection of totem poles globally, contribute to its strong sense of community and safety.

Kodiak, AK
Source: Wikipedia User Katie Walker | CC BY 2.0

Population: 5,357
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 317 (tenth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 821 (ninth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Kodiak: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

The city of Kodiak on Kodiak Island, Alaska, is not only a historic site with over 7,000 years of Alutiiq heritage and a former Russian fur trade center but also ranks as the eighth safest city in Alaska. With a low 317/100k people violent crime rate and 0 murders reported in 2024, its modest 5,357 benefits from a secure environment.

The city also has a notably low property crime rate, earning it the position of ninth safest in terms of property safety statewide, reinforcing Kodiak's status as a secure location within Alaska.

Bethel, AK
Source: Public domain

Population: 6,267
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,244 (21st safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 271 (safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 15
More on Bethel: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Bethel, the ninth safest city in Alaska for 2024, is the largest community in western Alaska with a history as a former trading post. Boasting a diverse population, Bethel has low crime rates, including a murder per capita rate of 0.00015956598053295037 and impressive rankings of 21st safest for violent crimes and safest for property crimes statewide.

Situated on the Kuskokwim River, the city has grown over time and successfully maintained a strong sense of safety amidst expansion challenges, reflected in its commendable 1,515/100k people total crime per capita.

North Slope Borough, AK
Source: Flickr User ilya_ktsn | CC BY 2.0

Population: 10,959
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 739 (17th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 556 (eighth safest)
Murders: 2
Murders Per 100k: 18
More on North Slope Borough: Data | Real Estate

Located at the northernmost point of Alaska, North Slope Borough, established in 1972 with its unique blend of indigenous leadership and expansive territorial jurisdiction, ranks as the tenth safest locality as of 2024. Despite its massive size exceeding that of many U.S. states, it maintains remarkably low violent crime per capita rate 739/100k people and property crime per capita rate of 556/100k people, including a nearly negligible 0.00018249840313897252 murders per capita.

These stats contribute to its 17th safest position for violent crime and eighth safest for property crime among a sparse 10,959, securing the borough's reputation for safety and earning it a #9 rank in statewide crime statistics.

Methodology: How we calculated the safest cities in Alaska for 2024

Safest Cities in Alaska Graph

While there are surveys and public polls on what cities in Alaska are the safest, we wanted to rely on something other than speculation and opinion. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's most recent crime report in Alaska.

Specifically, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which summarizes the number of property and violent crimes in each city annually. We used two criteria:

  • Violent crimes per capita (murders, assaults, rapes, armed robberies)
  • Property crimes per capita (thefts, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts)

For example, there were 9 crimes committed in Haines, with a reported population of 2,058. That means the number of crimes per capita is 0.0044, which translates into a 1 in 228 chance of being the victim of a crime.

We only looked at Alaska cities that have populations of more than 2,000. This filter left us with 23 of the biggest cities in Alaska to rank.

We ranked each city for each criterion from 1 to 23 where 1 in any particular category is the safest.

Next, we averaged each place's two criteria to create a Safety Index. We crowned the place with the lowest overall Safety Score, "The Safest Place In Alaska," with any ties going to the bigger city.

The safest city in Alaska, based on our criteria, is Haines. The most dangerous city in Alaska? Fairbanks, where residents had a 1 in 19 chance of being the victim of a crime.

This article has been update for 2024. This report marks our tenth time ranking the safest places to live in Alaska. All the data comes from the FBI's Crime In The USA 2022 report.

Cheapest Places To Live In Alaska

Summary: The Safest Cities In The Last Frontier

Looking at the data, you can tell that Haines is as safe as they come in Alaska, according to science and data.

But as most Alaska residents would agree, almost every place here has its safe and not safe parts. So just make sure you're informed ahead of time.

The safest places in Alaska are .

Here's a look at the most dangerous cities in Alaska according to the data:

  1. Fairbanks
  2. Anchorage
  3. Wasilla
For more reading, check out:

Where Are The 10 Safest Cities In Alaska For 2024?

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per 100k Property Crimes Per 100k Murders Per 100k Murders
1 Haines, AK 2,058 48 388 0 0
2 Valdez, AK 3,839 104 364 0 0
3 Sitka, AK 8,392 95 428 0 0
4 Cordova, AK 2,160 185 277 0 0
5 Unalaska, AK 3,908 127 486 0 0
6 Petersburg, AK 3,314 60 1,176 0 0
7 Ketchikan, AK 7,953 163 930 0 0
8 Kodiak, AK 5,357 317 821 0 0
9 Bethel, AK 6,267 1,244 271 15 1
10 North Slope Borough, AK 10,959 739 556 18 2
11 Homer, AK 5,894 424 1,238 16 1
12 Soldotna, AK 4,527 287 1,767 0 0
13 Seward, AK 2,667 374 1,612 0 0
14 North Pole, AK 2,335 256 2,141 0 0
15 Palmer, AK 6,305 459 1,601 0 0
16 Kenai, AK 7,713 337 1,970 12 1
17 Nome, AK 3,546 2,030 507 0 0
18 Dillingham, AK 2,364 930 1,057 0 0
19 Juneau, AK 31,775 619 1,730 6 2
20 Kotzebue, AK 3,041 1,512 986 0 0
21 Wasilla, AK 9,809 540 3,058 0 0
22 Anchorage, AK 285,821 1,150 2,763 10 29
23 Fairbanks, AK 32,785 826 4,291 30 10

Breaking Down Crime In The Safest And Most Dangerous Cities In Alaska

Safest Cities in Alaska Breakdown

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn.

Safest Cities By State

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