ZIP code
99553
in Akutan, AlaskaPopulation 694
49.79/ 100
Ranked #16,534 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #49 of 211 Alaska ZIPs (top 23%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
11.6%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
479.3 mi
in the top 0.02% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
45.8%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST17thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
573.5 mi
in the top 0.07% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
7 per million
in the bottom 0.07% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
473.4 mi
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
85.9%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Walkability
0.28 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST33rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Mammography
63.5%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST62ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, Akutan, Alaska (ZIP 99553) sits in the bottom 48% nationally (16,534th) and the top 23% of Alaska (49th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled energy burden is in the top 0.3% nationally, distance to a nursing home rests in the top 0.02% nationally, and modeled colon screening sits in the bottom 0.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers in the top 0.07% nationally, households without a vehicle lands in the top 0.3% nationally, and walkability resides in the bottom 0.7% nationally. Modeled mammography lies in the bottom 1.8% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the bottom 0.07% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 0.2% nationally. Modeled transportation noise is at the national minimum.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, distance to a nursing home runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 99685, about 20 miles away, ranks healthier 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 94%
22%
Environmental HazardPartial
in the top 0.00%
14%
Mental Health
in the top 0.9%
9%
Disability
healthier than 74%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.8%
17%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.06%
6%
No data: Climate / Disaster Risk — not measured in this ZIP, so it is left out of the score entirely rather than estimated.
“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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
99685
Alaskaabout 20 mi away
Score 53.79
Closest healthier
99692
Alaskaabout 30 mi away
Score 57.61
Similar health profile
99737
Alaska97% similar profile
Score 50.95
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 | 15.0% | 12.6–17.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.1% | 27.7–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 12.6% | 10.3–15.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.0% | 28.5–37.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.9% | 26.2–42.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.1% | 15.1–22.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.9% | 15.3–22.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 63.6% | 59.0–68.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 62.5% | 57.2–67.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 76.2% | 73.0–79.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 45.8% | 40.6–51.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 44.8% | 41.1–49.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 63.5% | 55.1–73.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.2% | 14.0–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.4% | 13.6–19.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.0% | 22.9–33.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.6% | 37.0–52.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.1% | 18.7–25.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.5–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.4–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.4% | 22.9–32.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.6% | 8.9–12.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 33.9% | 29.3–38.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.6% | 18.7–26.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 10.9–16.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.1% | 15.1–21.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.8–13.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.5% | 28.9–40.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.2–12.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AK median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.7% (1.4–38.0%) n=230 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 55.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 20.8% (8.5–50.0%) n=225 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 23.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.4% (1.4–25.1%) n=230 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.0% (0.0–37.4%) n=230 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 8.6% (0.0–29.5%) n=226 |
| Households without a vehicle | 85.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 31.1% (1.0–95.5%) n=228 |
| Broadband subscription | 56.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.8% (49.6–96.0%) n=228 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 17.0% (0.0–33.2%) n=228 |
| Homeownership rate | 56.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 71.7% (45.5–94.4%) n=228 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 8.5% (0.0–48.6%) n=228 |
| Foreign-born population | 55.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–11.1%) n=231 |
| Single-parent households | 36.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 44.2% (18.7–68.2%) n=221 |
| Population 65+ | 6.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 12.7% (3.0–29.7%) n=231 |
| Median age | 41.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 35.7 yr (22.6–53.6) n=226 |
| Median household income | $35,833 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,823 ($39,905–$108,850) n=197 |
| Median home value | $93,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,500 ($66,830–$395,940) n=178 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 86.9 yr ± 1.60 | 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 1.60 years of 86.9, 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