ZIP code
99518
in Anchorage, AlaskaPopulation 9,764
52.38/ 100
Ranked #12,939 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #43 of 211 Alaska ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #15 of 27 Anchorage, AK ZIPs (bottom 44%)
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
70 per million
in the top 0.2% 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
$1
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
68.2%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
31.6%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
88.1%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
99 intersections/sq mi
in the top 10.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
130 units
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 99518, one of several in Anchorage, Alaska ranks in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,939th) and the top 20% of Alaska (43rd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: recreation lands in the top 2.0% nationally, and transit settles in the top 7.2% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol rests in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and childcare lands in the top 10.3% nationally. Walkability settles in the top 10.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 0.2% nationally, expected annual loss lands in the top 1.8% nationally, and disaster risk settles in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled mammography rests in the bottom 8.1% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water lands in the top 9.5% nationally.
For context, 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. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 99502, just across the boundary.
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 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.8 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $93,995 predicts 79.8 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,167 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 70.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.8 ± 1.8 years.
Ranked #25 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
99502
Alaskashares a border
Score 55.13
Closest healthier
99507
Alaskashares a border
Score 57.25
Similar health profile
80233
Colorado97% similar profile
Score 54.41
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 | 22.7% | 20.7–25.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.2% | 29.7–35.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.8–6.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.8–25.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.6% | 29.1–34.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.7% | 32.8–41.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.4–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.8% | 8.4–11.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 67.2% | 64.5–70.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.4% | 67.4–73.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.7% | 77.5–81.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.4% | 56.7–64.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.8% | 56.9–62.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.2% | 62.1–73.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–20.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 13.2–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.0% | 18.3–24.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.0% | 33.5–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.8% | 16.8–21.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.3–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.6–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 26.0–32.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.2% | 22.4–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.6–16.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.2–12.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 30.9–37.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AK median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.7% (1.4–38.0%) n=230 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.3% | 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+) | 31.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.0% (0.0–37.4%) n=230 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 8.6% (0.0–29.5%) n=226 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 31.1% (1.0–95.5%) n=228 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.8% (49.6–96.0%) n=228 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 17.0% (0.0–33.2%) n=228 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 71.7% (45.5–94.4%) n=228 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 8.5% (0.0–48.6%) n=228 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–11.1%) n=231 |
| Single-parent households | 48.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 44.2% (18.7–68.2%) n=221 |
| Population 65+ | 10.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 12.7% (3.0–29.7%) n=231 |
| Median age | 31.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 35.7 yr (22.6–53.6) n=226 |
| Median household income | $93,995 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,823 ($39,905–$108,850) n=197 |
| Median home value | $323,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,500 ($66,830–$395,940) n=178 |
| Median gross rent | $1,649 | $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 | 76.8 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 76.8, 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