Kenai, Fairbanks, Anchorage or Juneau - where should I go? (to rent, crime)

[danisiri]

Greetings all!

My wife and I are a 30-something health professional couple (no kids, yet) who are looking to move up to Alaska. We should be making over $100K annually and have several opportunities- Kenai, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage.

Currently, we live in a small rural town in Northern CA with a population of 3000. We like the small town feel and would like something similar, though we can live near the larger cities if need be (we both grew up in the LA area). We want someplace safe to raise a family and spend the rest of our lives. We love outdoor activities. While we plan to rent initially, we would like to buy a home that has some acreage (5 or more). Finally, we would like someplace that has decent Asian restaurants (particularly Thai, Vietnamese and Korean).

From what I gather on the boards here, Kenai may fit the best, since there is enough space to get a home on acreage and we are still within driving distance of Anchorage if we really need to go to the big city.

Juneau seems nice for the relatively temperate climate, though I am not sure if I will get island fever not being able to get in the car and drive somewhere.

I am concerned about crime in Anchorage and the crowds.

I don't know much abbot Fairbanks, other than it probably has the worse winters of our choices.

Any and all advice is most appreciated! Thanks!

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by danisiri

Greetings all!

My wife and I are a 30-something health professional couple (no kids, yet) who are looking to move up to Alaska. We should be making over $100K annually and have several opportunities- Kenai, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage.

Currently, we live in a small rural town in Northern CA with a population of 3000. We like the small town feel and would like something similar, though we can live near the larger cities if need be (we both grew up in the LA area). We want someplace safe to raise a family and spend the rest of our lives. We love outdoor activities. While we plan to rent initially, we would like to buy a home that has some acreage (5 or more). Finally, we would like someplace that has decent Asian restaurants (particularly Thai, Vietnamese and Korean).

From what I gather on the boards here, Kenai may fit the best, since there is enough space to get a home on acreage and we are still within driving distance of Anchorage if we really need to go to the big city.

Juneau seems nice for the relatively temperate climate, though I am not sure if I will get island fever not being able to get in the car and drive somewhere.

I am concerned about crime in Anchorage and the crowds.

I don't know much abbot Fairbanks, other than it probably has the worse winters of our choices.

Any and all advice is most appreciated! Thanks!

ummm...you have been offered that kind of income in AK in the medical field, unless you are doctors, not so sure about that.
from Kenai...it is about 2 1/2 hr to 3 hour drive with off season traffic...tourist season or an accidnt can take anywhere from that to 24 hours .....decent Asian restaurants (particularly Thai, Vietnamese and Korean) not currently in Kenai or on the Peninsula...
note: this is news today: http://newsminer.com/bookmark/16075138/article-Relatively+warm+temperatures+snow+cause+problems+o n+Fairbanks+roads#.TpzB_KxmA74.facebook (broken link)

[Alaskapat528]

I'm just curious here...you want this and that...actually what you are leaving to be in Alaska. Then I have to wonder why you want to move to Ak? Just sayin.....

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by Alaskapat528

I'm just curious here...you want this and that...actually what you are leaving to be in Alaska. Then I have to wonder why you want to move to Ak? Just sayin.....

seriously....people want to be in AK but want everything that they have right where they are so in time they destroy AK into what they want to get away from!

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by blueflames50

seriously....people want to be in AK but want everything that they have right where they are so in time they destroy AK into what they want to get away from!

Exactly. You think they'd look forward to something new and different.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by Alaskapat528

Exactly. You think they'd look forward to something new and different.

oh they want something new and different but want all the comforts that they are use to....daaaahhhh...

[heathen]

Not that it's necessarily your best overall choice, but Fairbanks has an odd obsession with Thai food... There's something like 7 Thai restaurants in a region with an overall population of only 90,000... Good Chinese and Japanese too. No Indian though, which always bugged me...

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by danisiri

Finally, we would like someplace that has decent Asian restaurants (particularly Thai, Vietnamese and Korean).

To get all three of those together in AK, you are pretty much limited to Anchorage. Sadly, there isn't any Chinese food corresponding to that level here though.

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by blueflames50

ummm...you have been offered that kind of income in AK in the medical field, unless you are doctors, not so sure about that.

If they are both RN's they can easily make way more then 100K.

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by danisiri

We want someplace safe to raise a family and spend the rest of our lives. We love outdoor activities. While we plan to rent initially, we would like to buy a home that has some acreage (5 or more). Finally, we would like someplace that has decent Asian restaurants (particularly Thai, Vietnamese and Korean).


Any and all advice is most appreciated! Thanks!

Stay where you are at. That would be my advice. Sounds like you have everything you already want/need right there. Why would you need more then a couple of acres of land anyway? In the winter when it's snow covered what are you gonna do with it? Grow ice rice, maybe???