Semi Retired - Moving to Alaska - Crime Rate?? (Anchorage: new home, high crime)

[iwstamp]

HI all,

One more moving to AK thread! I have been to Alaska once and will return next summer for two weeks. My wife and I are curious where the best and safest areas are and are projected to be. We are set financially, so $$ is not a big concern - a home < than $500,000 is okay. We are looking for a town that is safe, with a growing economy with decent new home construction and some nice views (that should be easy!) . We'd like to stay within an hour of Anchorage but some of the towns that we have researched seem to have relatively high crime rate (Palmer, Wasilla, etc). Not to sound upitty, but one of our criteria is a an area with a high percentage of home ownership (as opposed to renters). Weather-wise (if it is that changeable within an hour from Anchorage) we would prefer less rain - cold is okay (goes without saying, I suppose..). We plan on getting a place with at least a couple of acres of land.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Iwstamp

[mal_flisk]

Pretty much puts you into Girdwood if you don't want to consider the valley.