As of the 2000 census, Anchorage had a population of 260,283, and in all, the Anchorage Municipality is home to almost two-fifths of Alaska’s population. Anchorage is also the most ethnically diverse city in Alaska.

The population today is approximately 72.23% White, 7.28% (apx. 19,000) are Alaska Natives and American Indians, 5.55% (approximately 14,500 people) are Asian Americans, 5.84% (apx. 15,200) are African Americans, 0.93% are Pacific Islanders, 5.69% are Hispanic Americans or Latinos of any race, 5.98% are from two or more races, and 2.19% are from other non-Caucasian backgrounds. 4.00% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.49% speaks Tagalog and 1.44% Korean.

There are 94,822 households out of which 38.9% have children under the age 18 living with them, 51.1% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 23.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.19.

In the city the population is spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 102.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $55,546, and the median income for a family is $63,682. Males have a median income of $41,267 and females have a median income of $31,747.

The per capita income for the city is $25,287. 7.3% of the population and 5.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.8% of those under the age of 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. As of September 7, 2006, 94 languages were spoken by students in the Anchorage School District.