Most dangerous cities in Alaska research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data to determine the most dangerous cities in Alaska based on violent and property crimes per capita. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The most dangerous city in Alaska is Anchorage based on the most recent FBI crime data.
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The violent crime rate in Alaska is 1,212 per 100k people.
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The property crime rate in Alaska is 3,447 per 100k people.
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The safest city in Alaska is Cordova.
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Alaska is the 6th most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | References
Grizzly bears, crazy hunters, and boatloads of snow and ice are just a few of the dangerous things that Alaskans have to deal with on a regular basis; unfortunately, however, not the most dangerous.
That’s right folks, the people who live in Alaska’s most dangerous places know danger. They are after all the second most dangerous state in the country. So, RoadSnacks thought it would be a good idea to produce a list of the most dangerous places in Alaska for 2023 so people are well informed before making any life changing decisions.
How’d we do it? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 24 cities. We looked at important factors like violent crime and property crime for every place with over 2,000 residents.
We discovered that although the state has 50 law enforcement agencies employing close to 1,300 police officers, they just can’t be everywhere. So, bigger cities like Anchorage and Juneau are starting to feel the effects.
We’re not talking riding your snowmobile illegally through Badger or camping out of bounds in Tanaina people, we’re talking about the stuff that gets you put in jail. So, whether you’re looking to move to Alaska or already live in Alaska and just need a new change of pace, we suggest you take a look at this list. There may be some that surprise you.
Want to know what places in The Last Frontier made Santa’s naughty list? Read on.
Sadly, this is not a list that any city in any state wants to make. You probably won’t see a sign entering the most dangerous place in a state that reads “Number one Most Dangerous City in Alaska”: it’s not something to brag about, but it’s something that people need to know.
So, what’s the most dangerous city in Alaska for 2023? That would be, Anchorage.
Take a look at the list below to see the rest of Alaska’s most dangerous places.
Learn more about the safest places in Alaska.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more Alaska reading, check out:
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Alaska For 2023
As one of the largest cities in Alaska featured on our list of the most dangerous places, Anchorage has a population of more than 286,388, which puts it in 1st in terms of size. It is first in terms of dangerous cities in the state.
Specifically, Anchorage is known for its high levels of violent crimes, aggravated assaults, and property crimes. In 2021, there were 3,472 violent crimes, 2,338 aggravated assaults, and 9,872 property crimes reports in the city. Anchorage also ranks 2nd for the number of burglaries it reported in the same year.
Anchorage is known for its stunning glaciers and wildlife, as well as its residential community of artists and musicians.
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Population: 286,388
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,212 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,447 (Second most dangerous)
More on Anchorage: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
While Fairbanks, Alaska might rank 3rd in population, it ranks second highest in total crime for 2023. Its thriving downtown community with lots of entertainment cannot make up for the fact that Fairbanks ranks highest in Alaska for property crime.
Unlike other more remote cities in Alaska, Fairbanks receives a large amount of tourism throughout the year. It is one of the best places to watch the northern lights during the Aurora season and has the summer sun 24 hours a day throughout the summer. It is also home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which houses a large number of college students. These factors contribute to the large amount of property crime the area experiences given its year round population.
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Population: 30,832
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 843 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,138 (Most dangerous)
More on Fairbanks: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located on the northern part of Cook Inlet, Wasilla is one of the largest cities in the state of Alaska. It ranks 4th in population with 11,228 residents. It is easily one of the more dangerous cities in Alaska.
Specifically, Wasilla has a problem with property crimes and burglaries. It ranks 10th for burglaries and third highest in property crimes in 2021. It might not be the best place to move your family to.
Unrelated to its status as a dangerous city, Wasilla is the headquartered for the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. It is also known for being the home of Sarah Palin.
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Population: 11,228
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 694 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,037 (Third most dangerous)
More on Wasilla: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Juneau, the state capital, is also one of the most dangers in Alaska based on the most recently release of FBI crime data. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this city has appeared on our list — it has made it every year since we started ranking cities in 2015.
While it’s very hard to exit or enter the city, the people that do live there seem to steal and cheat each other a little more than you’d like in the Last Frontier state. Burglary is the main problem as the city ranks third highest for burglaries this year.
And while Juneau is relatively dangerous for the state, you should worry more about being safe on the gorgeous glacier adventures you can experience around the city.
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Population: 31,925
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 927 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,963 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Juneau: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Are you into dog sledding? Like, really into dog sledding? Like, bore your friends at every party discussing the intricacies of harnesses and brushbow maintenance?
Well, then Nome might be the place for you. The town represents the finish line for the iconic Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which begins in Anchorage, more than 900 miles away.
However, if you come for the Iditarod, better stay alert. Nome can get rowdy. The town reported 164 violent crimes last year in a town of just 3,900 people. At that rate, you’re more likely to get bitten by a Nome resident than by one of the sled dogs. In fact, the city ranks number 1 in Alaska in terms of the per-capita pace of violent crimes.
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Population: 3,900
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 4,205 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,846 (11th most dangerous)
More on Nome: | Crime Report
The North Pole has a bit of a reputation for being the reputed home of Santa Claus. However, North Pole, Alaska actually does not have much to do with the mythical place or the city in the center of the Arctic Circle. Rather, it is a town of 2,090 people living in central Alaska.
North Pole, Alaska is more dangerous for your stuff than it is for your physical body. For 2023, it ranks 4th for burglary and sixth highest for property crimes.
It is located just outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, another one of the cities recognized in this year’s list of the most dangerous cities in Alaska.
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Population: 2,090
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 669 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,679 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on North Pole: | Crime Report
Ketchikan, Alaska is sometimes referred to the Salmon Capital of the World. With 8,307 residents, it is one of the more populous cities in the state. While Ketchikan might be relatively safe from violent crimes, the same cannot be written about its rates of property crimes.
Ketchikan ranks fourth highest for property crimes and sixth highest in overall crime. There is a 3,454/100k people rate for per capita crime in the city, as measured in 2021. This means that you are relatively likely to experience a property crime if you live here, compared to living in other communities in Alaska.
It is located on the west coast of Revillagigedo Island. It is historically a large fishing community.
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Population: 8,307
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 445 (12th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,009 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Ketchikan: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
This is Alaska. Your definition of “city” needs recalibration. Yes, Bethel only has 6,642 people. Yes, it sits near the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, in one of the great untamed wildernesses in the country. Yet, with all this, Bethel still counts as the biggest city in western Alaska.
Guess that’s where the big-city crime rate comes from. This lawless streak lands Bethel at number 8 on the list of most dangerous spots in Alaska.
Let’s just look at one example. For its size, Bethel suffers a scary number of sexual assaults, with 43 rapes last year. That’s the number 2 worst rate in the state.
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Population: 6,642
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,400 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,068 (17th most dangerous)
More on Bethel: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
When the U.S. bought Alaska back in 1867, they called it “Seward’s folly,” a dig at Secretary of State William Seward, who paid $7.2 million for the massive territory. Well, here’s a city named after him. The main folly here? Leaving your car parked in a darkened alley at night.
In terms of violence, Seward is relatively tame. But better check your car alarm before you head to town. The city reported 8 car thefts last year, in an area with 2,806 residents. That gives it the number 9 highest pace of auto theft in the Last Frontier.
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Population: 2,806
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 320 (14th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,102 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Seward: | Crime Report
Located along the mouth of a Kenai River, Kenai, Alaska is a small town that holds the title of the tenth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2023. With a population of just 7,885 residents, its total crime per capita is 2,320/100k people. It leads the state in total crimes, property crimes, and murder.
Compared to the other cities and towns in Alaska, Kenai ranks 3rd in murders and ninth highest for property crimes based on the 2021 data year. Considering its very small population when compared to other cities in Alaska, the 148 property crimes and 128 larceny cases reported in 2021 is a lot for residents to worry about.
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Population: 7,885
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 443 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,876 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Kenai: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Alaska for 2023?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Alaska. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Alaska, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2021 data, specifically the 2021 Crime In The United States Report for Alaska. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2023.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Alaska cities over 2,000 in population. That left us with 24 cities in Alaska.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 24 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Alaska — Anchorage. Any ties went to the smaller city.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Alaska FAQs
Yes, Alaska is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #6 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in alaska ranks highest in the United States — 116.05% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Last Frontier ranks 13th highest in the United States — 15.44% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Yes, Anchorage is a dangerous city. Anchorage ranks as the #49 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Anchorage might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Bear Valley is the safest in Anchorage, while Mountain View is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Anchorage ranks 22nd highest in America — 120.86% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 76th highest in the United States — 29.8% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Alaska
Summary: Locking It All Up In Alaska
So what is the most dangerous city in Alaska? After analyzing 24 cities in Alaska, Anchorage takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Alaska based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2021.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Anchorage ranks as the most dangerous city in Alaska for 2023.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Anchorage and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
Sadly, this is not a list that any city in any state wants to make. You probably won’t see a sign entering the most dangerous place in a state that reads “Number one Most Dangerous City in Alaska”: it’s not something to brag about, but it’s something that people need to know.
So, what’s the most dangerous city in Alaska for 2023? That would be, Anchorage.
Take a look at the list below to see the rest of Alaska’s most dangerous places.
Learn more about the safest places in Alaska.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Alaska:
- Homer (Pop. 6,028)
- Soldotna (Pop. 4,782)
- Kotzebue (Pop. 3,249)
- Unalaska (Pop. 4,439)
- Palmer (Pop. 7,641)
- Sitka (Pop. 8,512)
- Haines (Pop. 2,524)
- Valdez (Pop. 3,841)
- Wrangell (Pop. 2,508)
- Cordova (Pop. 2,161)
For more Alaska reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Alaska
- Cheapest Places To Live In Alaska
- Most Dangerous Cities In Alaska
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Alaska
- Safest Places In Alaska
- Worst Places To Live In Alaska
Crime By City In Alaska
Rank | City | Population |
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1 | Anchorage | 286,388 |
2 | Fairbanks | 30,832 |
3 | Wasilla | 11,228 |
4 | Juneau | 31,925 |
5 | Nome | 3,900 |
6 | North Pole | 2,090 |
7 | Ketchikan | 8,307 |
8 | Bethel | 6,642 |
9 | Seward | 2,806 |
10 | Kenai | 7,885 |
11 | Dillingham | 2,364 |
12 | Petersburg | 3,259 |
13 | Kodiak | 5,778 |
14 | North Slope Borough | 9,836 |
15 | Homer | 6,028 |
16 | Soldotna | 4,782 |
17 | Kotzebue | 3,249 |
18 | Unalaska | 4,439 |
19 | Palmer | 7,641 |
20 | Sitka | 8,512 |
21 | Haines | 2,524 |
22 | Valdez | 3,841 |
23 | Wrangell | 2,508 |
24 | Cordova | 2,161 |
References
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FBI UCR 2022
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Census – American Cumminity Survey