Which Alaska city is the easiest place to rank on Google Maps?

Of the 5 Alaska cities measured, Sitka averages lowest, at 24 across 12 trades, and Anchorage averages highest, at 54, 30 points higher. Sitka’s calmest market is plumbing, at 12, and its toughest is veterinarians, at 36, with 43.5 reviews at the top-three median. There, 11 of 12 trades score under 35 and 0 score over 65, in a city of 8,319 residents. A low average means thinner competition than elsewhere, not none, so the profile and review basics still decide who ranks.

How many Google reviews do I need to compete in Anchorage?

It depends on the trade. In Anchorage, the median review count of the top three Google Maps results runs from 27 for pool companies to 1,365 for HVAC, with plumbing in the middle at 277. In HVAC, 9 of the top 20 have passed 100 reviews and the top ten average 4.7 stars. Those are the businesses you would be trying to pass. Review strength is the largest weight in the index, 30 of 100, yet proximity still lets a business below the median rank nearby.

How is the Alaska Market Competition Index calculated?

Take chiropractors in Juneau, which scores 36, close to the Alaska median. Its top three Google Maps results hold 47 reviews at the median (weight 30), 1 of the top 20 have passed 100 (15) and the top ten average 4.9 stars (10). 33% of its top sites carry local business markup, part of the website signal (20). Juneau City and Borough has 0.55 of these businesses per 1,000 homes (10) and Juneau has 31,609 residents (15). Each signal is scaled from 0 to 1 across every city measured, then weighted. A logarithm tames review counts and population.

How often is the Alaska SEO forecast updated?

The Google Maps data behind this page was read October 29, 2026, in 60 searches, one for each of Alaska’s 5 cities and 12 trades, covering 871 business listings. The Census figures are County Business Patterns 2023 and the Vintage 2025 population and housing estimates. Alaska is one of 14 states published so far, with 36 more joining as their monthly Places batches complete. Because the index is relative, adding states recalculates every score, and small moves can happen with no local change.

Does a low score mean my business does not need SEO?

No. In Alaska, 29 of 60 markets score under 35. The calmest are plumbing in Sitka (12), HVAC in Sitka (16) and electricians in Sitka (17), where the top three hold as few as 1 reviews at the median. A low score means competitors there are less established than in other measured cities, not that customers stop searching. A complete Google Business Profile, correct categories and steady reviews may win those maps, and that work is cheapest before a rival does it first.

SEO Market Map Alaska

SEO Market Map · Alaska · 5 cities · 12 trades

Today’s SEO forecast for Alaska.

Alaska ranks 14th of 14 states for search competition, at 37 against a median of 54 across the 14 states measured so far. Its hardest trade is dentists (50); its calmest is roofing (26). Pick yours.

Run my
free audit Book
a call

In one paragraph

How hard is it to reach the top of Google Maps in Alaska? We scored five cities and 12 trades from 0 to 100 using who ranks, their reviews, their websites and how crowded each county is, all read October 29, 2026. Alaska averages 37, the 14th highest of 14 states so far.

The five-city outlook

Where search is calm, and where it is severe.

Sitka is calmest at 24; Anchorage runs at 54.

Mostly sunny

Sitka

24/ 100

Profile and reviews may be enough

Hardest Veterinarians · 36

Calmest Plumbing · 12

Mostly sunny

Juneau

33/ 100

Profile and reviews may be enough

Hardest Pool companies · 47

Calmest Landscaping · 21

Clouds building

Fairbanks

38/ 100

Local SEO needed

Hardest Dentists · 55

Calmest Roofing · 20

Clouds building

Wasilla

38/ 100

Local SEO needed

Hardest Dentists · 61

Calmest Pest control · 25

Storms likely

Anchorage

54/ 100

Local SEO needed

Hardest Dentists · 71

Calmest Roofing · 41

The Alaska radar

Anchorage runs hottest.

Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka, stormiest first.

54AnchorageStorms likely
38FairbanksClouds building
38WasillaClouds building
33JuneauMostly sunny
24SitkaMostly sunny

Clear skies 0–19
Mostly sunny 20–34
Clouds building 35–49
Storms likely 50–64
Severe 65–100

State lines: US Census Bureau. Numbered pins follow the key, stormiest first.

01 / 11

How competitive is local search in Alaska?

The short answer for Alaska is 37 out of 100, 14th of 14 states, where the median state scores 54. The long answer is 60 separate markets, from 12 (plumbing, Sitka) to 71 (dentists, Anchorage), and the one that matters is yours.

Of those 60 markets, 1 land in the band where full SEO plus paid search is the norm (over 65), 30 need steady local SEO work (35 to 65) and 29 sit where a complete Google Business Profile and a flow of reviews may carry a business (under 35).

Trade by trade, dentists (50), med spas (46) and veterinarians (46) average highest across Alaska. Roofing (26), pest control (28) and landscaping (30) average lowest.

Size matters less than you might expect: Anchorage, the largest measured city at 287,155 residents, averages 54, while Sitka, at 8,319, averages 24.

02 / 11

SEO competition in Anchorage

Anchorage scores 54 on average, ranking 1st of 5 in Alaska. Dentists are hardest at 71: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 963 reviews, with 19 of the top 20 above 100. Roofing is calmest at 41, where 94 reviews is the top-three median.

Of its 12 trades, 1 calls for full SEO plus paid search, 11 for local SEO and 0 for a strong profile and reviews.

Anchorage’s rating bar is lowest for veterinarians, 4.4 stars across the top ten, and highest for chiropractors, at 4.9.

Anchorage has 287,155 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Anchorage Municipality counts 770 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 6.3 per 1,000 homes.

Of the 36 top competitor sites we could read here, 58% use local business markup, and 72% have a sitemap updated within twelve months.

SEO competition in Fairbanks

Fairbanks averages 38 across 12 trades, 2nd of 5 Alaska cities. The hardest trade is dentists (55), with a 198-review median among the top three and 12 of 20 competitors past 100 reviews. At the other end, roofing scores 20 with a 8-review median.

In Fairbanks, 0 of 12 trades score over 65, 7 sit between 35 and 65 and 5 fall under 35.

The top ten map results average 4.1 stars in law firms and 5.0 in pest control, the lowest and highest rating bars in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks has 31,468 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Fairbanks North Star Borough counts 215 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.0 per 1,000 homes.

We read 35 competitor websites that rank for Fairbanks searches. 44% carry local business markup and 67% changed their sitemap in the last year.

SEO competition in Wasilla

Wasilla averages 38 across 12 trades, 3rd of 5 Alaska cities. Dentists are hardest at 61: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 260 reviews, with 18 of the top 20 above 100. At the other end, pest control scores 25 with a 11-review median.

In Wasilla, 0 of 12 trades score over 65, 6 sit between 35 and 65 and 6 fall under 35.

The top ten map results average 4.3 stars in roofing and 4.9 in chiropractors, the lowest and highest rating bars in Wasilla.

Wasilla has 10,556 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Matanuska-Susitna Borough counts 279 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.4 per 1,000 homes.

For Wasilla, 36 ranking competitor sites were readable: local business markup on 61%, a sitemap change in the past year on 58%.

SEO competition in Juneau

Juneau scores 33 on average, ranking 4th of 5 in Alaska. Its toughest market is pool companies at 47, where the top three Google Maps results hold 227 reviews at the median and 10 of 20 rivals have passed 100. At the other end, landscaping scores 21 with a 4-review median.

Split by verdict, Juneau has 0 full-SEO markets, 5 local-SEO markets and 7 where a profile may be enough.

The top ten map results average 3.8 stars in plumbing and 5.0 in pest control, the lowest and highest rating bars in Juneau.

Juneau has 31,609 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Juneau City and Borough counts 76 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.2 per 1,000 homes.

For Juneau, 34 ranking competitor sites were readable: local business markup on 47%, a sitemap change in the past year on 47%.

SEO competition in Sitka

Sitka averages 24 across 12 trades, 5th of 5 Alaska cities. Veterinarians are hardest at 36: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 43.5 reviews, with 0 of the top 20 above 100. At the other end, plumbing scores 12 with a 14.5-review median.

Of its 12 trades, 0 call for full SEO plus paid search, 1 for local SEO and 11 for a strong profile and reviews.

The top ten map results average 2.6 stars in plumbing and 5.0 in med spas, the lowest and highest rating bars in Sitka.

Sitka has 8,319 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Sitka City and Borough counts 14 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 3.3 per 1,000 homes.

We read 29 competitor websites that rank for Sitka searches. 29% carry local business markup and 49% changed their sitemap in the last year.

Where local SEO decides the call in Alaska: the tougher trades

Four trades average between 35 and 65 in Alaska: dentists (50), med spas (46), veterinarians (46) and HVAC (40). These are contested map packs, where a finished profile gets a business into the running and location pages, reviews and on-page fixes decide who stays there.

SEO for dentists: Sitka 19 to Anchorage 71, a 260-review median. SEO for med spas: Sitka 34 to Anchorage 59, a 38-review median. SEO for veterinarians: Sitka 36 to Anchorage 60, a 332-review median. SEO for HVAC: Sitka 16 to Anchorage 61, a 88-review median.

Anchorage sets the bar for dentists: 963 reviews at the median among the top three, 19 rivals past 100 reviews and a 4.9-star average.

Anchorage sets the bar for med spas: 174 reviews at the median among the top three, 4 rivals past 100 reviews and a 4.9-star average.

08 / 11

Where local SEO decides the call in Alaska: the lighter trades

Three trades average between 35 and 65 in Alaska: pool companies (39), chiropractors (39) and plumbing (35). These are contested map packs, where a finished profile gets a business into the running and location pages, reviews and on-page fixes decide who stays there.

SEO for pool companies: Wasilla 32 to Juneau 47, a 27-review median. SEO for chiropractors: Sitka 27 to Anchorage 63, a 47-review median. SEO for plumbing: Sitka 12 to Anchorage 53, a 24-review median.

In Juneau, pool companies’ top three hold 227 reviews at the median, 10 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.5 stars.

In Anchorage, chiropractors’ top three hold 340 reviews at the median, 12 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.9 stars.

09 / 11

Where a strong profile may carry a business in Alaska

Five trades average under 35 in Alaska: law firms (34), electricians (33), landscaping (30), pest control (28) and roofing (26). Few competitors have built deep review counts yet, so a complete profile with correct categories and regular reviews can reach the top three.

SEO for law firms: Sitka 21 to Anchorage 58, a 16-review median. SEO for electricians: Sitka 17 to Anchorage 56, a 17-review median. SEO for landscaping: Juneau 21 to Anchorage 46, a 14-review median. SEO for pest control: Juneau 23 to Anchorage 42, a 11-review median. SEO for roofing: Sitka 19 to Anchorage 41, a 8-review median.

To lead law firms in Anchorage, a business faces a 204-review top-three median, 5 established rivals and ratings averaging 4.9.

Anchorage sets the bar for electricians: 389 reviews at the median among the top three, 5 rivals past 100 reviews and a 4.9-star average.

10 / 11

What Alaska's top competitor websites do

Across Alaska’s 60 city and trade searches, 170 ranking competitor websites could be read and profiled. 48% carry local business markup, against 54% across every state measured, and 59% changed their sitemap in the last year. The median ranking site lists 0 location-style pages.

Across every state measured the median ranking site lists 1 location-style page, so Alaska’s leaders are behind the national pattern. WordPress runs 82 of them; custom or less common builders run 34. Platform matters less than markup, sitemap and service-area pages.

Trailing the leaders on markup, sitemap or service-area pages is usually the quickest gap to close, and the free audit checks each of them.

11 / 11

How to use the Alaska forecast

Find your city and trade in the table and read its band. In Alaska, 29 markets score under 35, where a profile and reviews may be enough; 30 sit between 35 and 65, where local SEO decides the call; and 1 score over 65, where full SEO and paid search are the norm.

In Alaska, dentists in Anchorage (71) is a full-SEO market; plumbing in Anchorage (53) needs local SEO; plumbing in Juneau (25) is a market a strong profile may carry.

The median Alaska market scores 36, so half of the 60 city and trade pairs here are calmer than that and half are tougher. Pick a trade above to see only its scores, and read the methodology for how each one is built.

What a searcher sees on the map

The view from the phone.

City Trade

71/ 100

Severe

Competitors with deep review counts and built-out websites hold the top spots. This market rewards full SEO, with paid search to buy time while it builds.

963 median reviews among the top three
19 of the top 20 with 100 or more reviews
4.9 average stars across the top 10

The full forecast

Every city, every trade.

Alaska by city and trade, read October 29, 2026. Methodology.
City	Plumbing	HVAC	Roofing	Electricians	Landscaping	Pest control	Pool companies	Dentists	Law firms	Med spas	Veterinarians	Chiropractors
Anchorage	53	61	41	56	46	42	42	71	58	59	60	63
Juneau	25	32	26	30	21	23	47	46	28	41	39	36
Fairbanks	40	51	20	25	29	23	41	55	30	55	51	37
Wasilla	46	41	25	39	32	25	32	61	34	39	42	34
Sitka	12	16	19	17	23	27	33	19	21	34	36	27

Questions

What business owners in Alaska ask first.

Jamie Kloncz · SEO Elite Agency, Naples

The answer is dentists: a 50 average, top among 12 trades, with 1 of 5 Alaska cities scoring it above 65. It is hardest in Anchorage, at 71: the top three Google Maps results there hold 963 reviews at the median, 19 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.9 stars. Its calmest Alaska city is Sitka, at 19. The least competitive trade statewide is roofing, at 26, 24 points lower. Leaders there win on several fronts at the same time.

Sources

Google Maps Platform: Text Search (New), Places API documentationOpened and checked October 30, 2026
U.S. Census Bureau: County Business Patterns (2023)Opened and checked October 30, 2026
U.S. Census Bureau: Population and Housing Unit Estimates (Vintage 2025)Opened and checked October 30, 2026

Keep reading

The national SEO forecast How the forecast is measured SEO for dentists SEO for med spas

Written by Jamie Kloncz, founderSEO Elite Agency, Naples FL. Data last read October 29, 2026.

Start with the audit.

About 60 seconds, no email, and you get named findings for your own site, not a score out of a hundred.

Run my
free audit Book a call
instead