Taterchip,
I thought I'd throw in my $.02. I've lived in ER for 10 years and recently moved a little further out to Chugiak. I commute to my domicile (not ANC based). Anchorage has many nice places to live, but my family and I enjoy the close-knit community feel of ER/Chugiak. My wife drives to ANC everyday for work and does not mind the commute. Her ANC dwelling coworkers act as though she just drove in from Fairbanks everyday!
I go to ANC 2-3 times per month to commute out and it works great.
The best bit of advice so far is to find a home with southern exposure. I used to lose direct sunlight from mid-November thru mid-January and it was a bummer. The worst part is that your driveway stays snowed/iced in until the sun is there to help thaw it out!
Best of luck!
Trouser