Anchorage, AK vs. Bellingham, WA (live, cost, better, largest)

[preston39]

Anchorage is over 3x the size of Bellingham and is the largest city in a 1,000+ mile radius, but B’ham is also <60 miles from Vancouver and 90~ from Seattle.

Which U.S. city north of the 48th parallel would you prefer to live based off the following?

- City amenities
- Recreation
- Diversity
- Location
- Cost of living
- Economy
- Scenery
- Politics
- Infrastructure
- Climate

[march2]

I wouldn't want to live in either city. But Bellingham isn't nearly as isolated as Anchorage, so I'd go with Bellingham in this pairing.

[T007]

Originally Posted by preston39

Anchorage is over 3x the size of Bellingham and is the largest city in a 1,000+ mile radius, but B’ham is also <60 miles from Vancouver and 90~ from Seattle.

Which U.S. city north of the 48th parallel would you prefer to live based off the following?

- City amenities
- Recreation
- Diversity
- Location
- Cost of living
- Economy
- Scenery
- Politics
- Infrastructure
- Climate

Amenities: This goes to Anchorage easily, Bigger City by quite a Margin,
Recreation: I'd say it depends but Certainly Anchorage takes this by a Hair.
Diversity: Probably Anchorage, (though Bellingham is more Diverse than people think/ give it Credit for).
Location: Finally something Bellingham Win's, It's wedged between Seattle & Vancouver BC in Canada, IMO that makes it the better City automatically.
Cost of Living: Anchorage by a mile, but then again that's for good reason though, Bellingham is more livable, less Crime, & Certainly it's location is superior, (Being Wedged between Seattle & Vancouver BC in Canada).
Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site
Economy: Probably Bellingham for Potential, but Anchorage Currently. So Tie.
Scenery: Bellingham, (Mostly because the PNW is just so beautiful in general), which isn't to say that Anchorage isn't, it's just hard to beat this Region though.
Politics: Bellingham, less NIMBYSM.
Infrastructure: Tie
Climate: Bellingham by a Country Mile.

So Anchorage takes City Amenities (1), Recreation (2), Diversity (3), Cost of Living (4), & Splits/ Ties Economy & Infrastructure.

Meanwhile Bellingham takes Location (1), Scenery (2), Politics (3), & Climate (4).

I want to say it's tied, (& both Cities are Interchangeable), but to me Slight Edge goes to Bellingham, (Mostly because u didn't list Crime as an Option though), if u did then Bellingham would have won, Bellingham's a nice little City IMO, (& an Underrated one, it's not just a Border Town for Cross Border Canadian Shoppers), It has the Potential to become the 2nd Detroit for America, (A Greater Border City with alot of potential & upside).