Fairbanks

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Fairbanks, AK

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Life is an adventure at the top of the world.

Airport Military Parks Outdoors Nature College Sports Local Business River

Less than 120 miles from the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks offers the unique balance of city living on the edge of Alaska’s vast wilderness. While the great outdoors are all around, the urban core doesn’t look terribly different from any other small American city, with a collective of storefronts and mid-rise buildings downtown surrounded by charming homes and apartment communities. The city is home to thousands of students enrolled at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (whose campus can be found on the west end of town), as well as armed service personnel and civilian military employees working at nearby Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base. Being so far north, Fairbanks residents do have to contend with natural factors that are unique among American cities, mainly the extremely cold winters and the irregular daylight hours throughout the year (They don’t call it “the land of the midnight sun” for nothing), but most locals accept this tradeoff in exchange for the truly breathtaking natural surroundings.

Explore the City

The spectacular Northern Lights over Fairbanks

A dazzling sunset over the Tanana River

Fairbanks residents enjoy a rugged mountain landscape

The elevated hiking trail through Creamer's Field boreal forest

Rent Trends

As of February 2025, the average apartment rent in Fairbanks, AK is $784 for a studio, $1,275 for one bedroom, $1,558 for two bedrooms, and $2,034 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Fairbanks has increased by 2.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,275/month
679 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Fairbanks, AK

Transportation

41

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

18

Minimal Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

60

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Weller Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

467 Students

7
out of 10

Arctic Light Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

467 Students

6
out of 10

Pearl Creek Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

411 Students

6
out of 10

Woodriver Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

341 Students

6
out of 10

Ladd Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

437 Students

5
out of 10

Ladd Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

437 Students

5
out of 10

Joy Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

307 Students

5
out of 10

Tanana Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

545 Students

4
out of 10

Barnette Magnet School

Public

Grades PK-8

426 Students

4
out of 10

Randy Smith Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

407 Students

4
out of 10

West Valley High School

Public

Grades 9-12

906 Students

6
out of 10

Lathrop High School

Public

Grades 9-12

886 Students

5
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Museum of the North
  • Georgeson Botanical Garden

Airports

  • Fairbanks International

Top Apartments in Fairbanks

Houses for Rent in Fairbanks

Living in Fairbanks

Restaurants

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Alaska isn’t widely known as a gastronomic wonderland, but until you take a bite of fresh Alaskan crab just hours after they've pulled it out of the ocean, you have yet to really appreciate what food is all about. We could list great restaurants in Fairbanks all day, but if you want to make absolutely sure you have an excellent meal, check out the Silver Gulch Brewery. Great microbrewed beer, amazing locally sourced seafood, and some of the best steaks you'll find anywhere.

Transportation

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Fairbanks is considered the transportation hub for all of interior Alaska. If you want to take a bus through Alaska, if you want to fly in or out of the state, if you want to ship some produce to Juneau, you're probably going to have to go through Fairbanks at some time or another. Public transportation about town is provided courtesy of the Metropolitan Area Commuter System. Although many choose to own a car rather than wait in line for the bus on cold, snowy winter days, the fact remains that the option is there if you so choose to rely on public transportation to get around town.

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