ZIP code
99502
in Anchorage, AlaskaPopulation 25,006
55.13/ 100
Ranked #9,307 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #27 of 211 Alaska ZIPs (top 12.8%)
Ranked #10 of 27 Anchorage, AK ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Air-toxics cancer risk
64.4 per million
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Park land
20.5%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
10.4%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
2.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS8thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST34thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
87.5%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST43rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.6%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.9%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 99502, one of several in Anchorage, Alaska lands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,307th) and the top 12.8% of Alaska (27th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: park land settles in the top 6.8% nationally, and fatal road crashes resides in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and diabetes rests in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease stands in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 0.3% nationally, expected annual loss lands in the top 4.9% nationally, and transportation noise sits in the top 8.0% nationally. Modeled disaster risk is in the top 8.4% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water settles in the top 9.6% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, expected annual loss runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 99517, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 41%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 64.4 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 79.1 ± 1.9 years.
Ranked #39 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
99503
Alaskashares a border
Score 48.26
Closest healthier
99517
Alaskashares a border
Score 55.58
Similar health profile
77054
Texas97% similar profile
Score 59.85
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 22.4% | 20.5–24.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.1% | 28.6–34.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 19.2–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.0% | 29.4–35.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.2% | 30.5–38.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.5% | 7.7–11.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 67.8% | 65.0–70.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.1% | 68.1–74.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.8% | 79.9–83.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.4% | 57.7–64.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.5% | 59.7–65.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.5% | 63.7–74.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.8% | 16.5–21.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 32.3–39.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.5% | 14.9–18.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.3% | 23.8–29.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 22.0–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 10.1–13.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.7–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.5% | 30.3–36.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AK median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.7% (1.4–38.0%) n=230 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 20.8% (8.5–50.0%) n=225 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.4% (1.4–25.1%) n=230 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.0% (0.0–37.4%) n=230 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 8.6% (0.0–29.5%) n=226 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 31.1% (1.0–95.5%) n=228 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.8% (49.6–96.0%) n=228 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 17.0% (0.0–33.2%) n=228 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 71.7% (45.5–94.4%) n=228 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 8.5% (0.0–48.6%) n=228 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–11.1%) n=231 |
| Single-parent households | 41.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 44.2% (18.7–68.2%) n=221 |
| Population 65+ | 9.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 12.7% (3.0–29.7%) n=231 |
| Median age | 35.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 35.7 yr (22.6–53.6) n=226 |
| Median household income | $116,071 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,823 ($39,905–$108,850) n=197 |
| Median home value | $418,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,500 ($66,830–$395,940) n=178 |
| Median gross rent | $1,677 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,078 ($688–$1,571) n=143 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AK median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.1 yr ± 0.95 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.0 yr (75.1–84.7) n=222 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.95 years of 79.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured