r/AskAlaska•u/flurtcobain•4d ago
Hi guys, moving to anchorage middle of June, have to find housing quick and cheap as possible for a job relocation. Heard a lot about dicey areas in Anchorage, and coming from Chicago that doesn’t really bother me but I’d rather avoid them if possible. Willing to compromise on price to stay in decent areas. Please let me know which neighborhoods/ areas to avoid when picking an apartment.Thanks!
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11
u/jiminak464d ago
This is difficult to answer. There are areas of Anchorage one person might find suitable when someone else won't. You just have to get there and look. Chicago smarts should tell you what you are looking at.
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u/flurtcobain4d ago
Totally, was told South Anchorage was in generally a bit safer, would you say that’s correct?
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u/hikekorea4d ago
In general yes. There are fewer tough spots on the south side and more tough spots downtown and on the east side. But there are plenty of nice neighborhoods on the east side and downtown.
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u/Entropy9074d ago
It’s safe but full of Karens
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u/Trayvessio4d ago
I lived in Fairview for years. Compared to big cities in the lower 48, it’s totally fine. Same as any urban area, pay attention to your environment, situational awareness, and you’ll be fine.
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u/Various-Finger-58833d ago
I've lived all over and anchorage takes the cake for crazy sh*t. Not sure why everyone pushes this false narrative. I have been in worse situations here than when I worked in East New York and Brownsville.
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u/Swift-Sloth-3434d agoedited 4d ago
I would avoid the area around the Econo Inn. Long story but im 98% sure three dudes were about to rob me outside of it 4yrs ago. My hunch is that the front desk attendant at the time was in on it but that part we'll never know. Basically i sensed something was off and then with plenty of rooms available was told they're booked up (to get me to go back in to the parking lot) and then walking back to my car out of the corner of my eye i noticed two dudes circle back around and close in on me from two diff directions once they were seemingly out of my eyesight. I then saw a big black SUV pull up 10ft from my car and one guy got out of it and started to walk towards me. Thought about it for about 2 seconds then sprinted out of there, got to the bank and called APD. they all scattered.
Not sure though which parts of town are considered safer than others.
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u/hikekorea4d ago
If you’re getting an actual apartment and not renting a unit in a multi family home you’re more likely to be in a tougher neighborhood.
If I had a friend coming up I’d recommend avoiding the Muldoon and downtown areas.
I’d also personally prioritize trying to be near the bike trails or one of the big green spaces. Check out Bicentennial Park, Kincaid Park, the Campbell Creek Trail, the Coastal Trail, or the Chester creek trails.
I hear the apartments near the park strip downtown are pretty good too.
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u/FunnyNameHere023d ago
An apartment right on Spenard will give you Chicago vibes if you miss hearing sirens and gunshots.
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u/flurtcobain3d ago
Lolol will keep in mind
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u/That_Sell61314d ago
Any type of neighborhood ending in “view” that’s cheap to live in
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u/jiminak464d ago
That is a very poor response. I guess you are referring to Mountain View and Fairview, both of which have areas of decent and safe areas. The guy who murdered and dis-membered a barista a few years ago lived on the Hillside. Is that an off-limits area too?
2
u/BragawSt4d ago
Not sure if you are saying he lived on hillside at one point, but it happened in the Turnagain neighborhood, which is also nice.
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u/jiminak463d ago
And he abducted her in mid-town, not far from hotel row. The point is that there is safety and danger everywhere. No one can guarantee either to anyone.
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u/TeddyRN13d ago
I think it depends on how much you have to spend, what your commute time could be, are you bringing a car or planning on biking to work? Lots of people bike from south anchorage in the winter on fatty bikes for example. Cost is a factor too. Rent is not cheap. Get you’re from Chi Town so most likely high cost is a given. Check out apts.com, FB marketplace, Craigslist, or engage a realtor. Also, check out the Anchorage Daily News classifieds, there’s often a couple of ads for apts on the park strip. OR write your own classified stating what you want you’ll probably get a hit or 2 on that. People still read the newspaper classifieds. Good luck. If you find a place, post on Reddit to get feedback on the locale. Someone might even be willing to go over and take real time photos for you or video.
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u/flurtcobain3d ago
Gonna have a car and planning to drive, my job is actually quite travel heavy and will require me to be away from my place pretty often. Only in the office probably 1-3 times a week and that’ll be in midtown. I’d ideally like to spend no more than 1600 monthly but am absolutely fine with a smaller studio or 1br.
1
u/TeddyRN13d ago
So then I suggest looking at rentals along 9th Ave downtown I’ve seen them offered in classified s in Anch daily news. Also still suggest you write your own ad, post it and see what bites. Some people rent a room out of their home w WiFi kitchen bathroom space for <2k. Good luck.
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u/yungcashaveli4d ago
It’s not a matter of what areas to avoid but more so WHO to avoid. Keep to yourself and you’ll be fine whatever part/neighborhood you’re in.
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u/flurtcobain4d ago
Course, but I’d prefer to avoid any areas where the WHOS hang out hahah
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u/davidm22324d ago
But who wants to live in an area where you aren't friends with your neighbors.
1
u/Impossible_IT4d ago
I used apartments.com when I needed to find a place within a week a couple years ago. Every place I called didn't have any available.
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u/Xenocideghost4d ago
Imo anywhere South of Dowling and East of Seward Highway.
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u/AlaskanMinnie4d ago
Mountain View and Fairview are the "tougher" areas but not really bad. Midtown (around the airport) is a bit more mixed. Jewel Lake area / South Side / Hillside are great. A quick and ez way - if the gas station / store bathrooms are locked, then there are addicts in the area - if you can walk right in, no problems :)
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u/mikeskup4d ago
All of anchorage… I hate going there! Eagle river, Chugiak are suburbs much nicer!
3
u/citori4214d ago
Spoken like someone who has never lived in Anchorage, or experienced it outside of coming to town for work or shopping. Anchorage has far more to do, including outdoor recreation, cultural and art events, food, and entertainment than eagle river, chugiak, and the matsu combined. Plus you don't have to drive two hours every time you need something those smaller communities don't offer.
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u/mikeskup4d ago
I lived in anchorage for years…
-1
u/mikeskup4d ago
I wrote and sold the apd scanner app for years before they encrypted the feed… because I wanted to know what all the gun shots were about, as I sat outside in hot tub..
u/citori4214d ago
And that applies to "all of Anchorage"? I've lived several places in Anchorage, including during that record murder and bath salts year, I wanna say 2016, and like others said if you weren't involved in drug or gang activity, you had nothing to worry about.
-1
u/Dvgangstalked4d ago
Best bet, don't go. If you're must, biggest bang for your buck is the valley. An hour commute, from Anchorage.several options as far as communities. Palmer is windy, wasilla is overcrowded. Meadow Lakes is nice, but getting crowded fast. Big Lake is nice. If you like luv ng in a mountain, Hatcher Pass is beautiful. There are lakes every where along with off road trails. The valley also gets about 30% less rain, if you must live in Anchorage, hillside and the base of mountain, lake Otis and Abbott.
u/Various-Finger-58833d ago
Anchorage is a lot worse than alot of the places in Chicago I have visited. I have only driven through south chicago so maybe that part is worse i hear. I would live in south anchorage or eagle river if you are concerned about crime.
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u/flurtcobain3d ago
Not so much concerned just would rather avoid, I drive a fairly nice car and would be living alone as a woman, so I would just rather have peace of mind knowing the neighborhood is known to be safe
1
u/MylesFurther2d ago
Don’t let the snowflakes scare you away, Anchorage is a walk in the park compared to Chicago. There are some who will steer you away from any neighborhood that ends in “view” , typical of Outsiders who don’t know squat about this town.
u/Various-Finger-58833d ago
Yeah live in south anchorage or eagle river. Peace of mind is worth it.
u/MylesFurther2d ago
Good Lord, seriously ?
1
u/Various-Finger-58832d ago
Anchorage has more in common with Gary Indiana than a lot of Chicago.
u/MylesFurther1d ago
So you visited Chicago once, lol.
1
u/flurtcobain14h ago
I’ve lived in Detroit/Chicago/St Louis, so I know crime is crime it’s gonna happen no matter what, I’m just trying to avoid living in a Call of Duty match really