Livability Score Comparison
Quality of Life

Alaska vs California: Livability Score

California has a higher livability score than Alaska.

Alaska flag
Alaska
AK • West
44.17
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).
California flag
California
CA • West
Winner
50.49
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

Visual Comparison

Alaska 44.17
California 50.49

Difference: 6.32 points — California leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for livability score.

Alaska #46 · 44.17
California #32 · 50.49
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Livability Score

#1 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
60.23
#2 Idaho flag Idaho
60.19
#3 New Jersey flag New Jersey
59.81
#4 Wisconsin flag Wisconsin
59.66
#5 Minnesota flag Minnesota
58.69
#6 Florida flag Florida
58.51
#7 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
58.21
#8 New York flag New York
57.94
#9 Utah flag Utah
57.94
#10 Pennsylvania flag Pennsylvania
57.90
Selected states
#46 Alaska flag Alaska
44.17
#32 California flag California
50.49

Alaska ranks 46th and California ranks 32nd nationally for livability score.

Related Context

What Drives the Score

The livability score synthesizes several quality-of-life signals — here are the key inputs.

What This Means

Alaska vs California: Livability Score in context

California has a livability score of 50.49, compared with 44.17 in Alaska, a gap of 14.3%. Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

Alaska
44.17
California
50.49
Difference
6.32 points

People Also Ask

Alaska vs California Livability Score — Common Questions

Q What is Alaska's livability score?

Alaska's livability score is 44.17.

Q What is California's livability score?

California's livability score is 50.49.

Q Which state has a higher livability score — Alaska or California?

California has a higher livability score than Alaska.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.