Who moves to Anchorage, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Anchorage Municipality, AK, home of Anchorage, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 13,578from other US counties
- Moved out
- 16,009to other US counties
- Net
- −2,431more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 506tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 1,152 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 462 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 406 |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 262 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 223 |
| Honolulu County, HI (Honolulu) | 201 |
| Pierce County, WA (Tacoma) | 176 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 166 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 159 |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 153 |
| Bexar County, TX (San Antonio) | 152 |
| Juneau City and Borough, AK | 151 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 1,951 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 464 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 404 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 289 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 287 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 273 |
| Bexar County, TX (San Antonio) | 245 |
| Honolulu County, HI (Honolulu) | 243 |
| Pierce County, WA (Tacoma) | 241 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 234 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 180 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 141 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 3,584 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Alaska and 9,994 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 462 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 406 |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 262 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 223 |
| Honolulu County, HI (Honolulu) | 201 |
| Pierce County, WA (Tacoma) | 176 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 166 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 159 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 464 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 404 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 289 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 287 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 273 |
| Bexar County, TX (San Antonio) | 245 |
| Honolulu County, HI (Honolulu) | 243 |
| Pierce County, WA (Tacoma) | 241 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Anchorage come from?
Most people moving into Anchorage Municipality, AK come from nearby counties, led by Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK (1,152 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK.
Where do people leaving Anchorage move to?
The top destination is Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK (1,951 people). Farther away, the most popular is Maricopa County, AZ.
Are more people moving to Anchorage or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 13,578 people moved into Anchorage Municipality, AK from elsewhere in the US and 16,009 moved out, a net loss of 2,431 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Anchorage with any city it trades people with, like Anchorage vs Phoenix, Anchorage vs Honolulu, Anchorage vs Tacoma, Anchorage vs Los Angeles.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Anchorage.