City Comparison
Dillingham vs Valdez
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Valdez scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Dillingham
Valdez
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Valdez is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
6% lower than in Dillingham.
| Metric | Dillingham | Valdez | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $1,350 | -7% |
| Groceries | $650 | $520 | +25% |
| Utilities | $280 | $220 | +27% |
| Transport | $200 | $150 | +33% |
| Healthcare | $300 | $280 | +7% |
| Monthly Total | $2,680 | $2,520 | +6% |
| Cost Index | 135 | 128 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Dillingham offers 6% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Dillingham delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Dillingham is estimated at
$65,000 vs $60,000 in Valdez.
| Metric | Dillingham | Valdez |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $68,000 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $60,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 53,333 idx | 53,125 idx |
| Household Income | $101,200 | $99,271 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.8°F of each other.
For sunshine, Dillingham comes out ahead with 72 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Valdez sees 356.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Dillingham | Valdez |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 37.10°F | 38.90°F |
| Summer High | 60.90°F | 60.90°F |
| Winter Low | 16.80°F | 18.60°F |
| Rainfall | 45.70 in | 115.50 in |
| Snowfall | 62.80 in | 419.70 in |
| Sunny Days | 211 | 139 |
| Humidity | 75.00% | 72.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
| Metric | Dillingham | Valdez |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 10 min | 11 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 30.00 | 25.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Valdez is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of Dillingham.
From a growth perspective, Dillingham is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Valdez has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Dillingham | Valdez |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,109 | 3,847 |
| Pop. Growth | — | — |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.4 |
| Unemployment | 5.40% | 4.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Dillingham
Advantages
World-class access to pristine wilderness, sport fishing, and outdoor recreation right outside your door.
Strong, close-knit community fabric with rich Alaska Native cultural heritage and traditions.
Lucrative seasonal employment and business opportunities tied to the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery.
Very short average commute times under 10 minutes due to compact town geography.
Comprehensive regional healthcare services provided locally through Kanakanak Hospital.
Drawbacks
High cost of living and inflated grocery prices driven by remote air and barge freight logistics.
Isolation from the main highway system, requiring costly flights or boat travel to reach Anchorage.
Severe subarctic winter climate with limited daylight hours and heavy snow loads.
Fluctuating economic stability tied directly to the annual success and pricing of the commercial salmon harvest.
Limited options for retail shopping, dining, and specialized entertainment.
Valdez
Advantages
Average home values remain relatively stable around $351,711 per recent Zillow market data.
Residents enjoy zero state income tax and benefit from annual Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend payouts.
Exceptional proximity to world-class glaciers, sportfishing, and backcountry winter recreation.
High-wage career opportunities centered around the Trans-Alaska Pipeline marine terminal and energy sector.
Extremely low crime rates and a strong, supportive community-oriented atmosphere.
Drawbacks
High cost of living driven by freight and shipping expenses inherent to remote coastal Alaska geography.
Challenging rental market inventory with a significant portion of housing utilized for seasonal or corporate needs.
Severe winter weather conditions featuring heavy snowfall averaging over 400 inches annually.
Limited local availability for specialized medical care, often requiring transit to Anchorage.
Geographic isolation with limited road access routes out of the community during heavy winter storms.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Dillingham
#543Alaska, USA
49.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
135
Commute
10 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
211/yr
Avg Temp
37.10°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
Valdez
#399Alaska, USA
58.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
128
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
139/yr
Avg Temp
38.90°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
76
Business
67
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Dillingham and Valdez.
Open Cost Calculator