Firstly why Juneau, Alaska?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Juneau
• State: Alaska
• Population: 31,738 people
• Juneau’s quick summary would be Juneau locals joke about living in the capital you can’t drive out of, completely dependent on ferries and planes.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 1,500 annually
• While this many move-out: 1,500 annually
• Net Migration: 0 no real change annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 200
• Number of Homeless people: 200

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it provides access to stunning landscapes and is the state capital which attracts government workers and tourists

Perk #1: Juneau Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 36%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 62%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is White
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $84,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Juneau is $82,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $-2000 in negative cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Juneau’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 125 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $4,370
• Property Tax %: 1.02%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,350
• Rent for an average house: $2,000
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Downtown
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Juneau, Douglas, Auke-Bay, Glacier, and probably could include Mendenhall-Valley
• Avg. Age of Homes in Juneau: 37 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 0.6%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Juneau’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Juneau are  Government, Tourism, and Healthcare
• Juneau Job Scene: stable job market primarily in government and tourism
• The General Tech Scene: state capital, tech scene mainly revolves around government and public services ,
• Juneau Resident’s pay $600 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Juneau: 1%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 40 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 2

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Juneau

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $130 on average per person
• Freeway Access: Egan Drive runs through Juneau providing access to surrounding areas
• Commute Time: 28 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: traffic jam at the intersection of Egan Drive
• Transportation Score: 25 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Juneau: 28,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.9
• No. of Car Washes: 4 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Juneau: dmv.alaska.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 62 of 100
• Local Airport: Juneau International

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Juneau’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Avalanches
• General Weather in Juneau is best described as has rainy winters with temperatures just below freezing and cool
• Winter Weather in Juneau i’d describe as chilly and wet
• Spring Weather in Juneau can be described as cool and rainy
• Summer’s in Juneau are mostly cool with significant rainfall
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Juneau is usually cool and rainy
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 0 days in summer
• Days in a row in Juneau below Freezing: 253
• Average Annual Rainfall: 86 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually good air quality generally maintained by ocean winds
• Juneau Winter Air generally good air quality in winter with occasional impacts from localized sources

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Juneau Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Juneau 1
• While the number of trade schools inside Juneaus’s city limits are 1
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Juneau Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Juneau Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 12 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Juneau only Doctors is about 30
• Local Hospitals here is  1
• Full-time Juneau only Police Officers is about 120
• Crime Rate Index: 15/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Juneau’s Monthly utility bill average is $190
• Juneau’s Monthly Gym Membership: $60
• Juneau’s Water Quality Score: 81

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Juneau

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 6 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: state capital with a mix of political energy and stunning views
• You might enjoy shows at the Perseverance Theatre
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Juneau  features a variety of bars and lounges with stunning views making it a relaxing spot for locals and tourists

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Juneau

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Home to seafood shacks and international cuisine with strong ties to local ingredients
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 25 scattered around Juneau
• The Popular Sports Team is Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears
• Top Level Political Climate in Juneau can be described as liberal stronghold emphasizing environmental protection and native rights
• Juneau’s Longer standing religious establishment is National Shrine of St. Therese

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Juneau Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Juneau has 30 Parks?
• Septentrional Park is Juneau’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Juneau Farmers Market normally open Saturday 10am-3pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, whale watching, and glacier tours

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Juneau Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Juneau can be described as steady urban pace with government focus and access to outdoor activities
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Juneau visiting the glacier trails sledding in winter enjoying summer festivals
• The Cities people commute to from Juneau are Anchorage 531 miles away Sitka 92 miles away Ketchikan 198 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Juneau or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: traffic jam at the intersection of Egan Drive. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Juneau’s Avalanches risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Downtown is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Juneau are Anchorage 531 miles away Sitka 92 miles away Ketchikan 198 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 15 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Juneau has 253 days in a row below freezing and 0 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Juneau people have an average (positive or negative) $-2000 in negative cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   200 homeless people living in Juneau. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general liberal stronghold emphasizing environmental protection and native rights could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Juneau.

Retiree & Senior Life in Juneau

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can may qualify for property tax deferments allowing payments to be postponed
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is Juneau Pioneer Home
• Juneau Senior Center provides meal services exercise classes and a range of activities

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Juneau, Alaska?

If Juneau, Alaska ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Juneau, Alaska, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!