City Comparison
Valdez vs Seward
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Seward scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Valdez
Seward
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Valdez | Seward | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,350 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $520 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $220 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $150 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,520 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 128 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Seward offers 4% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Valdez | Seward |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,000 | $70,600 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $99,271 | $85,481 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Seward sees 36 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Valdez | Seward |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 38.90°F | 38.90°F |
| Summer High | 60.90°F | 60.90°F |
| Winter Low | 18.60°F | 18.80°F |
| Rainfall | 115.50 in | 134.50 in |
| Snowfall | 419.70 in | 455.70 in |
| Sunny Days | 139 | 138 |
| Humidity | 72.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Valdez scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Seward leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Valdez | Seward |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 11 min | 12 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 60.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 25.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Valdez is the larger city
— approximately 1.4x the population of Seward.
From a growth perspective, Seward is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Seward has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Valdez | Seward |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,847 | 2,794 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.97% |
| Median Age | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.80% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Seward
Advantages
Seward boasts a high safety rating, ranking fifth for safety and fifth for lowest violent crime rate in Alaska as of 2024.
The median household income in Seward was $85,481 in 2024, significantly above the national average.
Employment in Seward grew by 5.77% from 2023 to 2024, indicating a robust job market.
Seward offers a high degree of walkability in its downtown and harbor areas, making it easy to explore on foot.
The city is a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, offering unparalleled access to natural beauty and outdoor adventures.
Drawbacks
Seward's overall crime rate is 2% higher than the national average, with property crimes being more prevalent.
The cost of living in Alaska, and by extension Seward, can be higher than the national average due to transportation costs for goods.
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are not available in Seward, requiring reliance on taxis or other transportation methods.
Seward has a lower percentage of foreign-born residents (6.73%) compared to the national average (14%), suggesting less diversity in that aspect.
The median age in Seward is 37.7 years, which is slightly lower than the US median of 38.9 years, indicating a slightly younger population.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Seward
#23Alaska, USA
72.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$70,600
Cost Index
Commute
12 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
138/yr
Avg Temp
38.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.97%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
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