Is Alaska or New Jersey a better state to live in?

Based on our composite scoring, New Jersey ranks higher overall. Alaska is #41 and New Jersey is #19 out of 50 states. Alaska wins 6 of 11 categories, while New Jersey wins 5.

How does Alaska compare to New Jersey in cost of living?

Alaska has a cost of living index of 102, while New Jersey's is 109 (100 = national average). Alaska is more affordable.

Which state is safer, Alaska or New Jersey?

Alaska has 724 violent crimes per 100K residents, vs 195 in New Jersey. New Jersey has the lower crime rate.

What are the median incomes in Alaska vs New Jersey?

Alaska's median household income is $84,143, compared to $97,126 in New Jersey.

Alaska vs New Jersey: Side-by-Side (2026)

Alaska

#41·West

42.1Composite Score

VSNew Jersey leads

New Jersey

#19·Northeast

65.9Composite Score

6AK wins

5NJ wins

Category Overlay

AlaskaNew Jersey

Category Scores

💰 EconomyNJ +20.1

35.0

55.1

🛡️ SafetyNJ +66.3

16.7

83.0

🏥 HealthNJ +40.8

40.8

81.6

🎓 EducationNJ +95.9

0.0

95.9

💼 Fiscal HealthAK +41.0

74.2

33.2

📈 GrowthNJ +12.8

14.4

27.2

🏠 AffordabilityAK +1.1

45.5

44.4

🌿 EnvironmentAK +12.1

49.5

37.4

🏞️ Outdoor AccessAK +93.5

100.0

6.5

🚇 TransportationAK +15.2

69.6

54.4

🎭 LivabilityAK +18.2

48.4

30.2

Key Metrics Comparison

Metric	Alaska	New Jersey	Winner
Population	733,406	9,290,841	NJ
Median Income	$84,143	$97,126	NJ
Unemployment	5.3%	4.8%	NJ
Violent Crime Rate(per 100K)	724	195	NJ
Cost of Living(100 = national avg)	102	109	AK
HS Graduation Rate	80%	91%	NJ
Life Expectancy	76.6 yr	79.5 yr	NJ
Pop Growth	+0.3%	+0.7%	NJ

Alaska vs New Jersey: How Do They Compare?

Alaska ranks #41 overall with a composite score of 42.1, earning a C grade. New Jersey sits at #19 with 65.9 and a B grade. New Jersey has the edge overall, winning 5 of 11 categories.

On the economic front, Alaska has 5.3% unemployment and a $84,143 median income, while New Jersey reports 4.8% unemployment and $97,126 median income.

For safety, Alaska's violent crime rate is 724 per 100K compared to 195 in New Jersey. Cost of living favors Alaska with an index of 102 vs 109.

Explore These States

Alaska Full Profile42.1 New Jersey Full Profile65.9 Compare Other States→

Data Sources

📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023 📎America's Health Rankings, 2025 📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 📎National Park Service API, 2024 📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration 2022-2023