Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Fairbanks, AK

    Is Fairbanks a good place to live?

    Watch Fairbanks

    Fairbanks ranks #3 of 3 Alaska cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (25/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $255,700
    -2.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,470
    per month
    Household income
    $72,077
    median
    Unemployment
    5.8%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Fairbanks

    The median home value in Fairbanks is $255,700 and median rent is $1,470 a month, against a median household income of $72,077. Homes cost about 3.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Fairbanks crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Alaska the 2025 rate was 736 violent and 1,927 property crimes per 100,000 people — #3 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Fairbanks, AK

    Fairbanks has about 32,242 residents, 5.8% unemployment and 18% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Fairbanks with

    Fairbanks vs AnchorageFairbanks vs Juneau

    More: Where to move in Alaska · Best counties in Alaska

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report