ZIP code
99835
in Sitka, AlaskaPopulation 8,368
58.05/ 100
Ranked #6,349 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #15 of 211 Alaska ZIPs (top 7.2%)
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
9.3 per million
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
0.16 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST27thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Park land
83.6%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.24 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
90.1 mi
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST33rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.59 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.5%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST30thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.59 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.71 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Sitka, Alaska (ZIP 99835) stands in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,349th) and the top 7.2% of Alaska (15th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the bottom 0.4% nationally, and park land registers in the top 0.6% nationally. Mental-health providers lies in the top 3.1% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the top 4.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Outpatient lies in the top 5.6% nationally, and childcare is in the top 7.4% nationally. By contrast, walkability registers in the bottom 0.5% nationally, modeled disaster risk lies in the top 2.1% nationally, and modeled energy burden is in the top 5.1% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. ZIP 99801, about 35 miles away, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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%
22%
Environmental HazardPartial
in the top 0.06%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
9%
Disability
healthier than 75%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
6%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
17%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
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
99832
Alaskashares a border
Score 46.82
Closest healthier
99801
Alaskaabout 35 mi away
Score 58.56
Similar health profile
85138
Arizona95% similar profile
Score 51.18
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 | 23.7% | 20.8–26.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.0% | 29.0–36.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 16.5–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.8% | 28.7–36.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.1% | 23.7–36.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 8.7–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 7.1–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.4% | 65.7–72.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 68.4% | 63.9–72.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.8% | 79.5–83.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.9% | 57.8–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.2% | 60.7–67.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 63.1–78.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.0% | 14.8–21.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 12.1–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.8% | 15.5–22.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.4% | 25.1–36.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.4% | 23.5–31.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.4% | 9.8–13.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.6% | 21.2–28.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 9.9–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.3–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.6–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 26.9–36.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | AK median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.7% (1.4–38.0%) n=230 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 20.8% (8.5–50.0%) n=225 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.4% (1.4–25.1%) n=230 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 15.0% (0.0–37.4%) n=230 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 8.6% (0.0–29.5%) n=226 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 31.1% (1.0–95.5%) n=228 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 84.8% (49.6–96.0%) n=228 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 17.0% (0.0–33.2%) n=228 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 71.7% (45.5–94.4%) n=228 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 8.5% (0.0–48.6%) n=228 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.8% (0.0–11.1%) n=231 |
| Single-parent households | 51.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 44.2% (18.7–68.2%) n=221 |
| Population 65+ | 17.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 12.7% (3.0–29.7%) n=231 |
| Median age | 39.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 35.7 yr (22.6–53.6) n=226 |
| Median household income | $101,727 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,823 ($39,905–$108,850) n=197 |
| Median home value | $450,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,500 ($66,830–$395,940) n=178 |
| Median gross rent | $1,341 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 78.9, 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