Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Massachusetts
Alaska is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Alaska, Massachusetts has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Massachusetts gets more sunshine.
Alaska
15
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Tie
Massachusetts
15
/ 30
metrics won
AK wins Housing
AK wins Quality of Life
MA wins Climate
MA wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Massachusetts
winner
Massachusetts scores higher on quality of life — 16.06 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Alaska is 23.0 points cheaper overall
Alaska has the lower cost-of-living index. Alaska is at 125.8, while Massachusetts is at 148.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $2.24 further in Alaska
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $97.79 of local buying power in Alaska, versus $95.55 in Massachusetts.
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Income
Massachusetts income is 11.5% higher
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, compared with $86,533 in Alaska.
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Jobs
Massachusetts minimum wage is $2.00 higher
Massachusetts has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
Massachusetts homes cost about 1.6x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
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Taxes
Alaska has lower state income tax
Alaska has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 5.00% in Massachusetts.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Alaska
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Massachusetts
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (102.7 for Alaska, 110.4 for Massachusetts). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alaska
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Alaska
- Alaska has a lower overall cost of living.
- Alaska has a lower housing cost index.
- Alaska has lower median home values.
Cons
- Alaska shows lower median income.
- Alaska has higher property tax rates on average.
- Alaska has a higher violent crime rate.
- Alaska job growth trend is weaker.
- Alaska health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Alaska health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Massachusetts
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Massachusetts
- Massachusetts shows higher median income.
- Massachusetts has lower property tax rates on average.
- Massachusetts has a lower violent crime rate.
- Massachusetts job growth trend is stronger.
- Massachusetts health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Massachusetts health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Massachusetts has a higher overall cost of living.
- Massachusetts has a higher housing cost index.
- Massachusetts has higher median home values.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
MA
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Boston |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
7,029,917
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$96,505
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
148.8
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$510,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
1.07%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
5.00%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$3.933/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
31.16 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
60.23
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
47.9°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
98 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
10,554 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
666.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
February 6, 1788 (#6)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
16
shown
Saving Money
Alaska is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 125.8 vs 148.8 in Massachusetts. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Massachusetts is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.933/gal in Massachusetts vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Massachusetts has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Massachusetts vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Alaska has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 25.52 c/kWh in Alaska vs 31.16 c/kWh in Massachusetts. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 5.29x in Massachusetts. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Alaska is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.7% in Alaska vs 20.9% in Massachusetts. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Massachusetts has a larger population than Alaska by 6,296,526 people.
Population Density
Massachusetts is more densely populated than Alaska.
Bachelor's Degree
Massachusetts has a higher college-educated share than Alaska.
Advanced Degree
Massachusetts has a higher advanced-degree share than Alaska.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Massachusetts - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Massachusetts?
Alaska has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Alaska scores 125.8 versus 148.8 for Massachusetts - a gap of 23.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Massachusetts?
$100 goes further in Alaska. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $97.79 in Alaska, compared with $95.55 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Massachusetts?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 10,554 sq mi for Massachusetts - roughly 62.8x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Massachusetts have more people?
Massachusetts has the larger population at 7,029,917, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has the higher median household income at $96,505, versus $86,533 in Alaska.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Massachusetts?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Massachusetts charges up to 5.00%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Massachusetts?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $510,400 in Massachusetts.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is more densely populated at 666.1 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alaska is more spread out at 1.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. 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. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.