Lakes 56 Below average
Lakes Livability #90 ranked city in Alaska#22,202 ranked city in the USARanks better than 24% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Lakes

PROS
  • Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Cost Of Living

    Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime

    High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.

New Real Estate Listings in Lakes Area
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What's it like Living in Lakes?

Lakes, Alaska is a small-sized city with a population of 8,944 residents. At 82%, the majority of the Lakes population is White; this is followed by 5% American Indian and Alaskan and 2% Asian. Something to be aware of when living in Lakes are the above average commute times. If you're looking for a short commute to work, this might not be the right area for you. With one way commute time of 30 minutes, this comes in much higher than the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Lakes can be a great experience for anyone relocating to the city. Having said that, in the state of Alaska, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like cost of living, health & safety, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Lakes and in the areas around Lakes is a much easier task.

Lakes has a livability score of 55/100 and is ranked #104 in Alaska and #22,696 in the USA. This is a lower than the US average livability score as Lakes does not rank well for most categories. If we explore each of the categories individually, we see that Lakes ranks well for employment (A) and housing (A-). There are some categories that Lakes scores poorly for, including: amenities (F), crime (F), cost of living (F) and education (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Lakes can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Lakes is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Lakes come in at $250,900, which is 2.4% lower than the Alaska average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lakes, the home price to income ratio is 3, which is 14.3% lower than the Alaska average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Lakes

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Lakes?

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Compare Lakes, AK Livability

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      Lakes transportation information

      Statistic Lakes Alaska National
      Average one way commute30min19min26min
      Workers who drive to work74.7%68.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool14.2%12.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.2%1.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%1.0%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.7%7.9%2.8%
      Working from home4.5%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Lakes, AK data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).