Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs New York
Alaska is cheaper overall, while Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and New York gets more sunshine.
VS
New York
NY • Northeast
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
57.94
Alaska
19
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New York
12
/ 31
metrics won
AK wins Housing
AK wins Quality of Life
NY wins Climate
AK wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
New York
winner
New York scores higher on quality of life — 13.77 points difference.
Quick Take
Alaska vs New York
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- New York is about 12 times smaller than Alaska.
- New York has a larger population than Alaska by 19,467,858 people.
- Alaska has the lower cost-of-living index. Alaska is at 125.8, while New York is at 132.7.
- Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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 6.9 points cheaper overall
Alaska has the lower cost-of-living index. Alaska is at 125.8, while New York is at 132.7.
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Income
Alaska income is 10.1% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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Jobs
New York minimum wage is $4.00 higher
New York has the higher statewide minimum wage at $17.00/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
New York homes cost about 1.2x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $367,200 in New York.
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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 10.90% in New York.
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Cost of Driving
New York gas is about $0.55 cheaper
New York has the lower regular gas price at $4.069/gal, versus $4.619/gal in Alaska.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
NY
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Albany |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
20,201,249
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$78,609
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
132.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$367,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
1.55%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
10.90%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$17.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$4.069/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
28.37 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
45.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
63 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
54,555 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
370.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
July 26, 1788 (#11)
|
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.
Saving Money
Alaska is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 125.8 vs 132.7 in New York. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
New York is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.069/gal in New York vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
New York has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $17.00/hr in New York 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 28.37 c/kWh in New York. 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 4.67x in New York. 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 24.1% in New York. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Alaska has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.11% in Alaska vs 1.55% in New York. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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State Color
New York votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Dem +12.52 in New York vs Rep +13.13 in Alaska.
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Gun Laws
New York has stricter gun laws
New York falls into the restrictive category, while Alaska falls into the permissive category on this simplified statewide comparison.
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Lower Taxes
Alaska has no state income tax
Alaska charges no state income tax. New York levies up to 10.90% at the top marginal rate.
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More Space
Alaska feels less crowded
Population density: 1.1 per sq mi in Alaska vs 370.3 per sq mi in New York. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Alaska has the shorter commute
Average commute: 18.8 min in Alaska vs 31.2 min in New York.
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Job Opportunities
New York looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 4.6% in New York vs 4.8% in Alaska. New York also leads on job growth.
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Remote Workers
New York looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 57.94 in New York vs 44.17 in Alaska.
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Families
New York looks better for families
New York wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with Alaska.
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Warmer Climate
New York is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 45.4°F in New York vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
See full data
More Sunshine
New York gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 63 days in New York vs 61 days in Alaska.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs New York - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than New York?
Alaska has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Alaska scores 125.8 versus 132.7 for New York - a gap of 6.9 points.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or New York?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 54,555 sq mi for New York - roughly 12.2x the size.
Q Does Alaska or New York have more people?
New York has the larger population at 20,201,249, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or New York?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $78,609 in New York.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or New York?
Alaska has no state income tax, while New York charges up to 10.90%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or New York?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $367,200 in New York.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or New York?
New York is more densely populated at 370.3 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, with minimum wage data 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.