Barrow 61 Average
Barrow Livability #40 ranked city in Alaska#16,963 ranked city in the USARanks better than 42% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Barrow

PROS
  • Employment

    The combination of higher than average median home income, income per capita and low unemployment rates results in a score that is well above average in the employment category.

  • Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Cost Of Living

    Based on the most recent cost of living data, this area is more expensive to live in. You can expect to pay more for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries and utilities.

  • Crime

    This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.

  • Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

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What's it like Living in Barrow?

Barrow is a small-sized city located in the state of Alaska. The city has a population of 4,316 residents. With an average age of 27 years old, Barrow could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. Barrow is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 48% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Barrow will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 7 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Barrow could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Alaska if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, health & safety, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Barrow and in the areas around Barrow is a much easier task.

Barrow has a livability score of 59/100 and is ranked #46 in Alaska and #18,097 in the USA. This is a lower than the United States average livability score as Barrow does not rank well for most categories. For each of the livability categories, we see that Barrow ranks very well for employment (B+) and housing (A-). Barrow does not fare well for the following: amenities (F), crime (F), cost of living (F) and education (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Barrow has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Barrow real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Barrow. Median real estate prices in Barrow come in at $177,800, which is 30.8% lower than the Alaska average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Barrow, the home price to income ratio is 2.3, which is 34.3% lower than the Alaska average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Barrow

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Barrow?

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Compare Barrow, AK Livability

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      Barrow transportation information

      Statistic Barrow Alaska National
      Average one way commute7min19min26min
      Workers who drive to work44.7%68.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool26.1%12.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.6%1.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%1.0%0.6%
      Workers who walk13.9%7.9%2.8%
      Working from home3.1%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Barrow, AK data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).