Where would you suggest my family move to in Alaska

[Siouxcia]

Originally Posted by Montutor

So my husband and I are considering moving to Alaska with our two children (3 and 1) and I am looking for some advice from people who actually live in Alaska.

I think that I would be most interested in somewhere further south ( I dont mind cold weather but I am not interested in it being below 0 all winter long. I would also like to live somewhere that is not too far away from some chain stores like Target or something similar. My Husband has worked mainly in Public works and I am a teacher.

I would live where I already had full-time employment and housing.

[malagagirl]

Are you familiar with the site "Find Your Spot" ? Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site


It gives you a detailed survey asking you questions about your preferences on things like climate, whether you prefer city/small town/rural, what sorts of resources you want close by, whether you have strong political views, what sort of activities you enjoy, etc etc and then makes recommendations for towns that might suit you. My survey suggested Palmer, AK. I am headed toward Wasilla, the next town over. I don't know how much weight I give to the ability of this gadget to come up with a true personal match (Cynic that I am I can't help but wonder if certain chambers of commerce might be paying for top billing)... however it DOES ask some good questions that can help you become more aware of things to consider, and help you in the process of getting more specific and detailed about what factors are important to you as you make your own decision.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by malagagirl

Are you familiar with the site "Find Your Spot" ? Best Places to Live: Compare the Best Cities & Small Towns for You!

It gives you a detailed survey asking you questions about your preferences on things like climate, whether you prefer city/small town/rural, what sorts of resources you want close by, whether you have strong political views, what sort of activities you enjoy, etc etc and then makes recommendations for towns that might suit you. My survey suggested Palmer, AK. I am headed toward Wasilla, the next town over. I don't know how much weight I give to the ability of this gadget to come up with a true personal match (Cynic that I am I can't help but wonder if certain chambers of commerce might be paying for top billing)... however it DOES ask some good questions that can help you become more aware of things to consider, and help you in the process of getting more specific and detailed about what factors are important to you as you make your own decision.

The link is not working, but it may be because I think this is a competitive website and against TOS....

[malagagirl]

Originally Posted by Grannysroost

The link is not working, but it may be because I think this is a competitive website and against TOS....

OOPS. Sorry. Actually I HAD read the TOS but was unaware that Find Your Spot was considered a "competitive website". My bad.

[warptman]

Oscarville, Alaska is the place for you!

[roadfamily6now]

Interesting, On Find Your Spot, I got a lot of New Mexico.
and Ketchikan of course!

[rwjoyak]

Juneau gets from 55 to more than 90 inches of rain per year (depending on what part of the community you're talking about) plus about 100 inches of snow. Ketchikan gets more than 150 inches of rain with about 37 inches of snow. So you have to like rain to be happy in either place. And really like it if you move to Ketchikan.

Southeast Alaska is one of the most beautiful places on earth when the sun shines, absolutely gorgeous with lots of big trees, mountains almost on top of you, the ocean right next to you and lots of wildlife. But there's a lot of days (the large majority) when it's not sunny, some downright nasty. You need to think about what kind of weather you really like before deciding whether to move to Southeast. If down deep you don't like the rain you're going to sooner or later catch cabin fever really bad and regret living there.

Both places are also land-locked. You can't drive overland to other places, the only ways out are by air or sea. Neither is big city style, although Juneau is moreso than Ketchikan. Juneau is much bigger and is the capital of Alaska so has a wider diversity of folks living there, etc. But if you're used to driving somewhere for weekend visits, etc., you won't be able to do that in Southeast. If getting out like this is important, you're much better somewhere on the Railbelt (Anchorage to Fairbanks and in-between),

Juneau has a population of about 31,000 while Ketchikan's is about 7,500. Ketchikan would only be a good fit for you if you're sure you like fairly small towns. Given the occupations you listed for both of you, job prospects would definitely be better in Juneau then Ketchikan. And even better in the more populated areas along the Railbelt.

Since you're talking about government jobs for both of you, I suggest you hit the municipal/school district web sites for the various Alaska communities you think you might be interested in and see what job listings might be posted. Also call them and inquire over the phone. That kind of research is cheap and an absolute necessity before making a decision to move north to someplace you've never been.

If at all possible you should visit first. I expect you'll know within an hour of setting foot within Juneau or Ketchikan if these communities feel right or wrong to you. And as has been said by many others on the forum, moving to Alaska without a job offer is really a hard row to hoe. Unless you have a big bankroll and lots of patience, it's a very tough way to go.

See the following for weather and other info about Juneau and Ketchikan: Juneau, Alaska - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Climate Information for Juneau*-*Alaska*-*Alaska*-*United States*-*Climate Zone (http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/united-states/alaska/juneau/ - broken link), JUNEAU AP, ALASKA - Climate Summary, Ketchikan, Alaska - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and KETCHIKAN, ALASKA - Climate Summary.

[Sterlingchuck]

I may be biased, but then again, I have lived in Alaska for 35 plus years, raised three fine kids and have 5 grand kids here.

We first lived in Anchorage. I got too big and not what we liked about Alaska. We then moved to Wasilla and it grew out of hand. We now live in Sterling, right on the Kenai River
, and have called it home since '95.

There are big box stores on the Kenai Peninsula, ie; Fred Meyers, Home Depot, Lowes and a Wall-Mart is on the verge of opening.

Bottom-line, we truly enjoy a quite life style within minutes of stores, fast food places, et

[okieplumber]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Ketchikan's all right but be advised that the rain in Oregon is no preparation for the rain there.

what is the difference ?

[gobrien]

Originally Posted by okieplumber

what is the difference ?

I think it has to do with the volume of water, in Oregon it can be constant but it usually isn't heavy. That's my guess based on what I have heard, I've only been to Ketchikan a few times, but I have lived in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.