Honesty about Anchorage (Wasilla, Eagle: apartment complexes, rentals, high crime)

[LestrMoos]

Ok, so I know there are many posts on here about where the best places are to live and not live in Anchorage and I've read them all. I need more specifics...I'm relocating from Knoxville, TN to Wasilla. For the time being I will be living in Wasilla with my parents, but I am wanting to work and possibly live in Anchorage. I realize it's a matter of perception, but everything I've read on these posts have made Anchorage out to be this high crime area. I've lived in Atlanta and I find it hard believe that it can really be that bad.

Are you just trying to scare people off because you don't people moving to the area? I will be moving up there in about 3 weeks and plan on looking around, but I haven't found much in the area of rentals. From what I've read, commuting from Eagle River is the best option. I don't mind commuting, but can anybody give me specific apartment complexes to look at. Eventually I would like to end up in the Penisula, but at this moment Anchorage looks like my best bet.

Any honest help would be appreciated.

[Rainy]

I don't think anyone here has any vested interest in keeping people out of Anchorage. The crime stats are available to anyone who wants them, and if you'll notice there were several people who went out of their way to explain to potential newcomers that it really isn't as bad as the stats make it sound.

Can't help you out with apartments and stuff but I'd say that once you get up here and start working, you'll get word of mouth info on things like that.

[Rance]

I think you can find rental/housing stuff through the Anchorage paper. You'll have to register I think...but if your moving up it won't hurt to see whats happening around town.

www.adn.com

[JavaPhil]

There's nothing wrong with Anchorage. It has the same problems that plague any other city of comparable size. The gangs are Samoan or Filipino or Native. The drugs contribute to the local problems. There are seedy sides of town, namely Spenard, Mountain View and Muldoon. But there are nice little neighborhoods within those areas, too.

We're not murder central, like Atlanta or Detroit. The people in town are, on the whole, nicer than most folks you'd ever meet anywhere else. There is still a mentality, for a lot of them, of "us against the rest of the world". Alaska is more than just physically separate from the rest of the country.

We have a different way of thinking up here.

We have a live and let live, laissez-faire, kind of mind-set.

Although the majority of people are conservative, it's a thin majority, and people are allowed to say what they want to say.

[LestrMoos]

Thank you. I just wanted to know more specifics...that's all. It actually looks like a very nice place and I'm excited to get up there an explore. I just wanted to have some ideas from people who live there. It's hard to get an overview on the internet.

[amaander]

Anchorage is a fun place to live and play in. The previous post mentioned a couple of the bad areas...and pretty much if you arent in a gang you even ok in those areas. They are working hard on improving Mountain View, putting in a new shopping complex and such. There will probably still be a stigma attached though. Just go during the day and have someone with you. As for Wasilla, its a nice town too with lots of jobs and cheaper housing. Whats you get up there you will have a better idea of what its all about!

[Ak5spot]

Anchorage is not that bad of a city. Yes we have our share of crime but as with any city it is a small fraction of the people who are commiting it. Anchorage has a strong econemy and is rapidly trying to catch up with other cities in terms of infastructure. The job market here is not bad and growing everyyear. The people are nice here and if you don't mind a bit of a winter the trade off for summer is more than equal. Wasilla is the fastest growing part of Alaska at the moment and has been for the last several years.
As for the last person who mentioned going to mountain view during the day with someone is so typical of people who are afraid of their own shadows. Mt. View isn't really that bad(especially comming from Alanta).If your looking for trouble you can find it but as long as your not looking to contribute to the problems Anchorage is a great place to live.

[niceplacetovisit]

I would be more afraid to live in Wasilla or "the valley" for that matter. For fear of mistakeningly stumbling upon or getting to near to someones basement pot growing operation or some other sort of illegal drug production facility.

[SaltNPepper]

I live in the valley and growing up I always heard horror stories about mountain view, spenard and muldoon. But it really isnt bad I drive in Anchorage all the time, especially late at night and have never seen or heard anything. I watch movies at the muldoon theater and today I ate at a nice little resturant called Hula Hands in Mt. View! They have amazing food!!! I have never had a bad experience, though I am not looking for trouble. If your looking for trouble just like anywhere youll find it but... I really dont think crime is a big deal.

[green_mariner]

Sounds like Anchorage might be a good place to live.