Inside the Unique Town Where Everyone Lives in the Same Building

Imagine being told that everyone in a town lives in the same building. Sounds impossible, right?

Well, that’s everyday life in Whittier, Alaska—a town where 273 people all live inside a single 14-story building. If someone wants to “move,” they simply swap apartments with a neighbor, who might trade with someone else. The only real way to escape the cycle is to move to another state, and let's be honest—when you're deep in Alaska, that rarely happens.

The building, Begich Towers, wasn’t always a quirky residential hub. After World War II, it served as military barracks. Today, it holds around 150 two- and three-bedroom apartments and includes essential public services like the police station and local shops. No wonder it’s famously known as the “town under one roof.”

Need groceries? Want to file a complaint? Curious what’s happening in town? Residents simply head downstairs. Many barely leave the building at all. It’s a tiny global village where everything from daily errands to town decisions happens within the same set of walls. Major issues and future plans are sorted out during monthly resident meetings—like a giant, hyper-local homeowners association.

The biggest reason people are happy living this way is the economic benefit. Whittier’s isolation and harsh weather make this all-in-one setup surprisingly practical. It simplifies life and saves money.

Jenessa, one of the residents, described Whittier as “quirky,” which might be an understatement. Imagine what happens when someone disagrees at a town meeting—or when two neighbors who aren’t on speaking terms still have to ride the elevator together.

Whittier proves that when an entire town lives under one roof, everyday life becomes a blend of convenience, comedy, and close-quarters community unlike anywhere else in the world.