Juneau
Alaska, USA
#5 in USA
83
Overall Score
VS
Homewood
Alabama, USA
#8 in USA
78
Overall Score
Juneau scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Juneau
Homewood
Livability
85
82
Affordability
64
70
Business
80
75
Growth
77
77
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Cost of Living

Homewood is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 37% higher compared to Juneau. Housing costs are a major driver: Juneau's average rent is 14% higher than Homewood's.
MetricJuneauHomewoodDiff
Average Rent
$1,820$1,596+14%
Groceries
$690$450+53%
Utilities
$325$180+81%
Transport
$230$150+53%
Healthcare
$535$250+114%
Monthly Total
$3,600$2,626+37%
Cost Index
127105out of 100

Salary & Income

Juneau offers 60% higher average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Juneau delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Juneau is estimated at $81,000 vs $40,000 in Homewood.
MetricJuneauHomewood
Average Salary
$86,000$53,746
Salary Needed
$81,000$40,000
Purchasing Power
67,717 idx51,187 idx
Household Income
$88,100$94,485

Climate Comparison

Juneau runs warmer on average — a 42.1°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Juneau comes out ahead with 90 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — Juneau sees 87 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricJuneauHomewood
Avg Temp
42.10°F°F
Summer High
64.00°F°F
Winter Low
22.00°F°F
Rainfall
62.00 in in
Snowfall
87.00 in in
Sunny Days
90
Humidity
80.00%68.00%

Commute & Transport

Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other. Juneau scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Juneau leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricJuneauHomewood
Commute Time
18 min17 min
Transit Score
44.1/1030.0/10
Walkability
58.0/1055.0/10
Traffic Index
33.4040.00
Car Dependency
MediumHigh
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Economy & Demographics

Juneau is the larger city — approximately 1.1x the population of Homewood. From a growth perspective, Homewood is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Homewood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricJuneauHomewood
Population
32,00027,829
Pop. Growth
0.40%1.80%
Median Age
38.129.0
Unemployment
4.70%2.10%
GDP
$7.6B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Juneau
Advantages
Scenic and unique lifestyle
Drawbacks
Remote and expensive
Homewood
Advantages
Homewood boasts a significantly shorter average commute time of 17.1 minutes compared to the national average.
The median household income in Homewood was $94,485 in 2024, notably higher than the national average.
The city has a healthy job market with a 1.38% employment growth rate between 2023 and 2024.
Homewood offers a strong sense of community and access to highly-rated public schools.
Residents have access to comprehensive healthcare services, including Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital within the city and major medical centers nearby.
Drawbacks
Median home purchase prices in Homewood are higher than the national average, potentially impacting affordability for buyers.
The city exhibits high car dependency, with most residents driving alone to work, and limited public transit options.
Summers in Homewood are long, hot, and muggy, which may be a drawback for some.
While generally safe, there have been reports of attempted car theft and homelessness in the area.
The median age of 29 is lower than the national average, which might not appeal to those seeking a more established, older demographic.
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Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Juneau
#5
Alaska, USA
82.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,820
Avg Salary
$86,000
Cost Index
127
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
44.1/10
Walkability
58.0/10
Sunny Days
90/yr
Avg Temp
42.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
4.70%
Livability
85
Business
80
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Homewood
#8
Alabama, USA
78.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,596
Avg Salary
$53,746
Cost Index
105
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
55.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
2.10%
Livability
82
Business
75
View Full Profile

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