Barrow, Nome, or Kotzebue?

Beware of statements like "These are not pleasant places to live at all" because that is purely OPINION. I live in Kotzebue, and I think it is a great place to live, but I don't for a second believe that everyone would feel the way I do. In my OPINION living in a place like Key West, Florida, Austin, Texas, or New York City would be VERY unpleasant. See, it's all relative.

Now, having said that, much of the other stuff that other person said is quite true. We have no trees. There are not roads except those in and close to town. It can get very cold. The summer is short. The cost of living is high (milk $10 a gallon gas 6.59 a gallon) and so are plane tickets in and out ($442/rt to ANC with 2 week advance). It can be difficult to find housing that you like. If you are the kind of person that needs to be amused you will have problems. If you have the ability to amuse yourself you will do fine. If you do not enjoy the great outdoors you're in trouble.

And some people do indeed have trouble fitting in, but I believe that has a lot to do with your attitude. If you come with a good attitude and want to give to the community as much as you take from it then usually you will not have any problems. If you come here with he attitude that this is a backwards place and you are just here just to make your money and then run be prepared to be treated like such.

Kotzebue is really what you make of it. Some people can hack it, some people can't.

*EDIT* Wooden Nickle...no offense taken, I just wanted to stress that people have varying opinions of this place and that "unpleasant" is relative.

PS. I have spent time in Nome and Barrow but prefer Kotzebue :)

http://tundratantrum.blogspot.com/

No disrespect, but have you ever been to Alaska? All 3 places are off the road system and very expensive to fly in and out every time. The Alaskan locals are not always friendly to new white people in remote towns. Above the arctic circle in AK trees do not grow; cold in summer; windy. These are not pleasant places to live at all. A person can live on the road system and still be very remote. I have lived in AK my whole life and love it, yet I would get the heck out of here before I would move anywhere on your list. If you drive 2 hours north of Anchorage it is very remote area. In Barrow the sun is up for 2 months straight in summer and does not appear for 2 months in winter. South central AK does not have such extremes. More mountains, bigger trees. The sun will go down for about 4 hours on summer solstice. Although I don't know you, I do not know how people live that far north and stay normal. Just some friendly advice. Email me if you want more info.

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edit: tundratantrum, I come in peace. I hope I did not offend you. I would not like to live in any of the crappy places you mentioned either. My only intention is to inform others. I had lived in southcentral AK for over 20 years before I visit north of the arctic circle. I worked all over the North Slope for a few years in '96-'98. peace