Kotzebue, AK 99752, USA
ShoreZone / Flickr
Alaska is the “Last Frontier,” and its beautiful natural scenery are what make it so appealing. Alaska has as much land area as Texas, Montana, and California put together. Alaska has been known for its beautiful wilderness for a long time. It has 355 different cities and towns, including the main city of Juneau. Anchorage, which is in the south-central part of the state, is the most popular city in the state, home to almost half of its people. But below the surface of this beautiful forest, a scary truth is coming out. With 148 cities, Alaska has a violent crime rate that is much higher than the national average (8.23 per 1,000 people), which is very different from how beautiful the state looks on the outside. It looks like The Last Frontier’s story is about both the beauty of nature and the problems that come up in its many towns.
2023: Dangerous Places in Alaska
| Rank | City | Population (2021) | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage | 288,121 | 11.40 per 1,000 residents | 34.55 per 1,000 residents |
| 2 | Juneau | 31,973 | 8.69 per 1,000 residents | Above the state average by approximately 25% |
| 3 | Bethel | 6,642 | 14.00 per 1,000 residents | Over 5% above the national average |
| 4 | Fairbanks | 32,702 | 7.77 per 1,000 residents | Double the national rate |
| 5 | Kodiak | 5,458 | 9.53 per 1,000 residents | Below both state and national averages |
| 6 | Wasilla | 9,456 | 6.66 per 1,000 residents | 28.55 per 1,000 residents |
| 7 | North Pole | 2,285 | 6.13 per 1,000 residents | 26.70 per 1,000 residents |
| 8 | Kenai | 7,590 | 4.48 per 1,000 residents | 17.79 per 1,000 residents |
| 9 | Ketchikan | 8,037 | 3.11 per 1,000 residents | Four times higher than the state average per square mile |
| 10 | Sitka | 8,407 | 1.78 per 1,000 residents | 15.46 per 1,000 residents |
1. Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska, has a population of 288,121 people (2021) and has won awards like the All-American City Award. However, safety is very different in this city. The city has a violent crime rate of 11.40 per 1,000 people, which is 50% higher than the state average and almost three times the national median. At 34.55 per 1,000 residents, property crime rates are higher than both the state and national standards. This is a worrying sign for safety in this tax-friendly urban hub.
2. Juneau
Juneau is the main city of Alaska. It is in the panhandle and has over 3,200 square miles of land. In 2021, there were 31,973 people living there. At 8.69 per 1,000 residents, its serious crime rate is about the same as the state average. However, property crime rates are about 25% higher than the Alaskan average in places like downtown and Lemon Creek, which makes people more worried. Even though the scenery is beautiful, Juneau has to deal with complex safety issues in these parts of the Last Plains.
3. Bethel
Bethel, a western gem with a population of 6,642 as of 2021 and a location on the beautiful Kuskokwim River, tells a different story when it comes to safety. The city is in a beautiful area, but it has a scary serious crime rate of 14.00 per 1,000 people, which is almost twice the state average. This number is especially shocking when you consider how small Bethel is. The city’s total crime rate is over 5% higher than the national average, which shows how difficult things are for this Alaskan town on the banks of the river.
4. Fairbanks
The University of Alaska’s first school is in Fairbanks, which is Alaska’s biggest city in the interior, with 32,702 people living there in 2021. Even though 7.77 serious crimes per 1,000 people is less than the state average, it is still higher than the national average. Be careful in downtown places like North Lake View and Van Horn Industrial Park. But the city has a big problem: its property crime rate is twice as high as the national average. This makes Fairbanks one of the places in Alaska with the highest property crime rates.
5. Kodiak
Kodiak, which has 5,458 people and is the main city on Kodiak Island, is an important industrial port. The property crime rates in Kodiak West and Mill Bay are lower than the state and national averages, but the serious crime rate is 9.53 per 1,000 people, which is twice the national average. Also, Kodiak has six times more crime per square mile than the rest of Alaska, which shows that safety is a complex issue in this busy island city.
6. Wasilla
With 9,456 people in 2021, Wasilla, Alaska was the fourth most popular city in the state. A new highway has turned the city into a commuter town for Anchorage. The rate of property crime is high at 28.55 per 1,000 residents, and the rate of serious crime is higher than the national average at 6.66 per 1,000 people. Notably, the crime rate per square mile is three times the state average. This is especially true in areas like Meadow Lakes and Colonial Park, which makes this growing Alaskan city less safe.
7. North Pole
There are both holiday cheer and safety worries in North Pole, Alaska, which is known for its permanent Christmas lights and had a population of 2,285 people in 2021. There are 26.70 property crimes for every 1,000 people, which is more than the state average. There are 6.13 dangerous crimes for every 1,000 people, which is less than the state norm. Some places, like Clear Creek Park, Badger East, and Newby Road, are known to have higher crime rates. This makes the safety situation in this uniquely decorated Alaskan city more complex.
8. Kenai
Although Kenai is a cute little city on the coast of the Kenai Peninsula, it has a crime problem. In 2021, there were 7,590 people living there. It is known that places like Kalifornsky and City Center are not as safe. At 4.48 crimes per 1,000 people, the serious crime rate is less than half of the state average, but it is still higher than the national norm. Also, the rate of property crime is 17.79 per 1,000 people, which shows how the city is a fine mix between safety worries and the appeal of the coast.
9. Ketchikan
Ketchikan is known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” and in 2021, 8,037 people lived there. It has beautiful scenery and a lively native culture. Even though the serious crime rate is lower than Alaska’s average (3.11 per 1,000 people), it is still higher than the national average. Additionally, Ketchikan has four times the state average for crime rates per square mile, which means that visitors to this famous location should be extra careful about their safety.
10. Sitka
With 8,407 people in 2021, Sitka, Alaska is the second most heavily populated city in the state. The city is also facing economic problems, as shown by its high jobless rate. Because of this, there is 15.46 property crimes for every 1,000 people, which is more than the state and national norms. The city’s safety is a fragile mix that is affected by how the economy works in this hub in southeast Alaska.
