Alaska
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Alaska vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, Alaska has higher incomes, and Texas gets more sunshine.
Alaska
AK · West
14 / 32
metrics won
VS
Texas
TX · South
18 / 32
metrics won
Winner
AK wins Housing
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
TX wins Demographics
AK wins Taxes
AK wins Geography
AK 14
18 TX
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Texas fits you better
Texas wins 18 of 32 scored metrics against Alaska.
Your match — Jobs
Alaska has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $13.00/hr in Alaska vs $7.25/hr in Texas. Matters most for hourly and entry-level work. See full data →
Your match — Saving Money
Texas is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 94.3 in Texas vs 125.8 in Alaska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Housing
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 4.40x in Texas. Lower means the median home is easier to afford on a median income. See full data →
Your match — Weather
Texas is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 64.8°F in Texas vs 26.6°F in Alaska. See full data →
Your match — Family & Health
Texas looks better for families
Texas wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, bachelor's degree, compared with Alaska. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
Texas
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.
Full comparison
Every metric, side by side
Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.
Capital City
Juneau
vs
Austin
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Solid Red
Population
738,003
32,101,064
Median Income
$86,533
$66,963
Cost of Living
125.8
94.3
Median Housing Value
$316,400
$294,400
Property Tax
1.11%
1.49%
State Income Tax
None (0%)
None (0%)
Minimum Wage
$13.00/hr
$7.25/hr
Gas Price
$4.619/gal
$3.824/gal
Electricity Rates
25.52 c/kWh
15.69 c/kWh
Livability Score
44.17
47.21
Average Temperature
26.6°F
64.8°F
Sunny Days
61 days
135 days
Land Area
663,268 sq mi
268,596 sq mi
Population Density
1.1 per sq mi
119.5 per sq mi
Statehood
January 3, 1959 (#49)
December 29, 1845 (#28)
Population
738,003
32,101,064
Population Density
1.1 per sq mi
119.5 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
32.2%
34.2%
Advanced Degree
12.2%
12.6%
Net Domestic Migration
-4,500
+67,300
Population Growth Since 2020
+0.6%
+10.1%
Livability Score
44.17
47.21
Best State to Live In
44.17
47.21
Cost of Living
125.8
94.3
Gas Price
$4.619/gal
$3.824/gal
Gas Tax
8.95 c/gal
20.00 c/gal
Electricity Rates
25.52 c/kWh
15.69 c/kWh
Commute Time
18.8 min
26.6 min
Car Insurance Cost
$1,679/yr
$2,577/yr
Average Credit Score
720
692
Average Temperature
26.6°F
64.8°F
Summer Temperature
52.3°F
81.1°F
Winter Temperature
2.6°F
47.9°F
Sunny Days
61 days
135 days
Annual Precipitation
22.5 in
28.9 in
Average Wind Speed
9.0 mph
10.1 mph
Lightning Density
0.3 per sq mi
154.9 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$316,400
$294,400
Median Gross Rent
$1,352/mo
$1,232/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$2,253/mo
$2,211/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$698/mo
$703/mo
Homeownership Rate
64.9%
62.6%
Home Value to Income Ratio
3.66x
4.40x
Rent to Income Ratio
18.7%
22.1%
Owner Costs to Income
16.8%
18.0%
Home Insurance Cost
$1,323/yr
$6,854/yr
State Income Tax
None (0%)
None (0%)
State Sales Tax
None (0%)
6.25%
Property Tax
1.11%
1.49%
Total Tax Burden
4.92%
7.69%
Grocery Tax Rate
0% (No state tax)
0% (Exempt)
Estate and Inheritance Tax
No State Death Tax
vs
No State Death Tax
Annual Vehicle Property Tax
No
vs
No
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Solid Red
Presidential Voting Margin
Rep +13.13
Rep +13.66
Swing State / Battleground
Not a battleground
vs
Not a battleground
Governor Party
Republican
vs
Republican
State House Control
Republican
vs
Republican
State Senate Control
Republican
vs
Republican
Trifecta
Republican Trifecta
vs
Republican Trifecta
Electoral Votes
3
40
Gun Laws Status
Permissive
vs
Permissive
Alcohol Laws
License State
vs
License State
Marijuana Legalization
Legal
vs
Medical
Minimum Marriage Age
16
16
Gun Ownership
63.5%
44.9%
Abortion Law Status
Legal - No Limit (No limit)
vs
Total Ban (Banned)
Right-to-Work Law
No
vs
Yes
Land Area
663,268 sq mi
268,596 sq mi
Highest Point
Denali (Mount McKinley) (20,310 ft)
Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft)
Statehood
January 3, 1959 (#49)
December 29, 1845 (#28)
Capital City
Juneau
vs
Austin
Region
West
vs
South
Life Expectancy
75.4 yrs
76.2 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
45.5
30.5
Uninsured Rate
10.4%
16.4%
Obesity Rate
34.0%
35.6%
Healthcare Quality Score
27.8
35.6
Infant Mortality Rate
6.82 per 1,000
5.70 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
45.1 per 100,000
15.8 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
837.8 per 100k
431.8 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
1849.4 per 100k
2338.9 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
1
17
Casinos
2
4 (Kickapoo Lucky Eagle)
UFO Sightings per 100,000
113.8 per 100K
25.6 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Chevrolet
vs
Ford
K-12 Education Rank
#48
#38
High School Graduation Rate
80.0%
90.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
14.8:1
School Spending
$20,340
$12,444
Teacher Salary
$81,450
$63,749
Public School Ranking
#49
#34
Student Loan Debt
$35,874
$33,770
College Graduation Rate
40.4%
45.3%
Median Income
$86,533
$66,963
Regional Price Parity
102.7
97.2
Purchasing Power of $100
$97.79
$109.17
Poverty Rate
10.4%
13.7%
Employment/Population Ratio
59.8%
62.6%
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
4.3%
Job Growth
-0.4%
0.9%
Infant Childcare Cost
$20,943/yr
$10,706/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$100,298/yr
$90,771/yr
Water Quality Score
97.7/100 (A)
78.1/100 (B)
Annual Power Outage Hours
5.5 hours/yr
21.2 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#32
#36
Renewable Electricity Share
2.7%
33.1%
Largest Airport
Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC)
vs
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alaska
Pros
- Alaska has a lower housing cost index.
- Alaska shows higher median income.
- Alaska has lower property tax rates on average.
- Alaska health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Alaska has a higher overall cost of living.
- Alaska has higher median home values.
- Alaska has a higher violent crime rate.
- Alaska job growth trend is weaker.
- Alaska health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Alaska education proxy is lower.
Texas
Pros
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas has a lower violent crime rate.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Texas education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Texas has a higher housing cost index.
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Texas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
People also ask
Alaska vs Texas — common questions
QIs Alaska cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 31.5 points.
QWhere does $100 go further - Alaska or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
QWhich state is bigger - Alaska or Texas?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 268,596 sq mi for Texas - roughly 2.5x the size.
QDoes Alaska or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 32,101,064, compared with 738,003 in Alaska.
QWhich state has higher household income - Alaska or Texas?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $66,963 in Texas.
QIs housing cheaper in Alaska or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
QWhich state is more densely populated - Alaska or Texas?
Texas is more densely populated at 119.5 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
Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.
Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA
Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line Files
- National Archives
- BEA — Regional Price Parities
- BLS — State Labor Market Data
- NOAA — U.S. Climate Normals
- FBI — Crime Data Explorer
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- AAA — Gas Prices
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity
- NCSL — State Partisan Composition
- Giffords Law Center — Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- NABCA
- NCSL — State Medical Cannabis Laws
See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.