It's a little town with a varied history: Agriculture, gold, oil, lakes and dogs. But, even though it is the sixth-largest city in the state, Wasilla would never have become a household word had it not been for Sarah Palin.
Although she served as Wasilla's mayor from 1996 to 2002, Palin would probably not have stepped on the national stage either had it not been for her selection as running mate to candidate John McCain in his 2008 bid for the presidency
It's a little town with a varied history: Agriculture, gold, oil, lakes and dogs. But, even though it is the sixth-largest city in the state, Wasilla would never have become a household word had it not been for Sarah Palin.
Although she served as Wasilla's mayor from 1996 to 2002, Palin would probably not have stepped on the national stage either had it not been for her selection as running mate to candidate John McCain in his 2008 bid for the presidency. But she did -- step onto that stage, that is -- and Wasilla came along for the ride. Now the city has returned to its former status as a bedroom community to Anchorage, Alaska's state capital, even though there was a time its residents held capital aspirations of their own. In fact, in 1994, a statewide initiative to move the statehouse was defeated by only 20,000 votes.
Making Wasilla Home
As you're looking for apartments for rent in Wasilla, keep in mind utility costs during the long winters. You might want to search for all bills paid apartments. Also, be prepared to put down a security deposit before you sign a lease; and calculate commute times based on snow, ice and inclement weather. If you plan to commute to Anchorage, check out Valley Mover. The modern bus service, with 13 to 16 trips to Anchorage and back daily, is an economical alternative to driving. Otherwise you might face a commute of between 45 minutes to an hour one way. Some people carpool, but your own vehicle is really a necessity in Wasilla.
Approximately 56% of Wasilla residences are owner-occupied, with the balance rented. Vacancies are quite common, so your chances of finding suitable one bedroom apartments for rent are really good. Most people try to move in the summer months, and you should too. Single-family homes account for 54% of housing, with 2 and 3-bedrooms being most popular. Apartment buildings make up another 38% of the housing supply, and you can find studio apartments for rent in high-rise buildings as well as row-houses and attached homes.
Neighborhoods of Wasilla
Wasilla has a dozen neighborhoods, but they are pretty homogeneous. Wasilla is actually a "middle of the road" city. Most of its residents are "transplants" from other states. All statistical measures place the city squarely in the mainstream. Neighborhoods in Wasilla are defined by geographic boundaries, rather than striking individual characteristics. Generally cited popular areas include:
Tanaina: You won't find apartments in this very quiet area of large homes. Instead, you will find houses with 3, 4 and 5 bedrooms and lots of land surrounding each home. You might be lucky enough to score 1 bedroom apartments, but your time will be better spent looking elsewhere.
City Center: Hip and trendy, this is the place to be if you want to be where it's happening. A whopping 48% of the housing in this neighborhood is apartment complexes and townhouses. This is also where you'll find Tailgater's Sports Bar & Grill and the Mug Shot Saloon!
Knik: The historic, coastal region of the valley feels new, with most buildings constructed since 1999. Go figure! It is very sparsely populated, and the vacancy rate is substantial, perhaps because many of the dwellings are seasonal. If you want to live here, be persistent and keep looking until you find something perfect.
Meadow Lake and Sunrise Dr / Theodore Dr: Two areas that are good places to look for apartments. Both have detached homes just as most of Wasilla, but there are also a small percentage of small complexes where you just might find pet-friendly apartments. Rents tend to be more reasonable in these two neighborhoods than in other parts of the city.
Living in Wasilla
If you move to Wasilla, you'll find a slightly higher than average cost of living, according to statistics; but living in Alaska has advantages. There's all that natural beauty to enjoy and, once you get used to the weather and the idiosyncrasies of the long nights, midnight sun and Northern Lights, you'll sing its praises! Located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska Valley, you can't quite see Russia from Wasilla, but the views of sea and mountains are pretty impressive. Its estimated population in 2012 rose 54.6% from 2000 figures. In contrast to the 350,000-plus residents of the greater Anchorage area, there is room to breathe in Wasilla. Actually, that is a possible meaning of the somewhat unusual name.
Transportation costs, however, become a budget item. Because of its vast size and the weather conditions - as well as the shortage of roads - the most popular method of travel around Alaska is by seaplane or small aircraft. There are numerous seaplane bases in Wasilla, and more landing fields and heliports than you can shake a stick at. The trains runs through as well, and even though you cannot take the train from the Lower 48 to Alaska, you can hop a modern rail car in Wasilla to go either north to Fairbanks, or south to Seward. But, to get back to Southeast Alaska - Juneau and Ketchikan - you'll have to fly, or take the ferry.
And, for transportation, there are always the dogs. Wasilla has been closely associated with the Iditarod Race since 1973, but because of too little snow, the starting point was moved to nearby Willow in 2008, and it has remained there since. The 1,000-mile sled dog race has been called "The Last Great Race on Earth."
