#1Chena Ridge
unincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,881 peopleHealth grade, better than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #15 of 41 in AK
Chena Ridge, #1 on this list · Photo: RadioKAOS · CC BY-SA 3.0Alaska rankings · Health
Healthiest towns in Alaska
Chena Ridge ranks first on health among Alaska’s 41 towns of 2,500+; 17 of the 41 grade A− or better on health nationally.
The Health grade: seven CDC PLACES estimates for adults (general, physical and mental health, obesity, diabetes, smoking, exercise). How grades work
#1A
#2Ester
unincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 2,752 peopleHealth grade, better than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #25 of 41 in AK
#3Seward
Kenai Peninsula Borough · 2,892 peopleHealth grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #16 of 41 in AK
All 41 towns
Health grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
41 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
1Chena Ridgeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,881 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #15 of 41
2Esterunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 2,752 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #25 of 41
4Goldstreamunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,294 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #7 of 41
5Steele Creekunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,928 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #5 of 41
6Farmers Loopunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 4,954 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #6 of 41
8Gatewayunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,845 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #10 of 41
11Collegeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 11,924 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #13 of 41
12Eielson AFBunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,155 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #32 of 41
13Kalifornskyunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 8,663 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #17 of 41
14Farm Loopunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 2,894 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #12 of 41
16Sterlingunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 6,323 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #9 of 41
17UnalaskaAleutians West Census Area · 4,306 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #2 of 41
19Fishhookunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 5,819 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #27 of 41
20AnchorageAnchorage Municipality · 287,155 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #26 of 41
21Petersburgunincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #1 of 41
22Mill Bayunincorporated, Kodiak Island Borough · 3,654 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #34 of 41
23Badgerunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 18,677 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #33 of 41
24South Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,180 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #8 of 41
25Butteunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 4,085 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #19 of 41
26FairbanksFairbanks North Star Borough · 31,468 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #38 of 41
27PalmerMatanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,710 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #11 of 41
28North Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,223 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #22 of 41
31SoldotnaKenai Peninsula Borough · 4,615 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #18 of 41
32Knik-Fairviewunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 19,972 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #31 of 41
33Tanainaunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 9,646 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #21 of 41
34Meadow Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 8,689 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #35 of 41
35Nikiskiunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 4,773 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #36 of 41
36WasillaMatanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,556 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #40 of 41
37KetchikanKetchikan Gateway Borough · 7,939 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #24 of 41
40Big Lakeunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 3,585 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #29 of 41
41KotzebueNorthwest Arctic Borough · 2,876 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #37 of 41
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the healthiest town in Alaska?
Chena Ridge (Fairbanks North Star Borough) ranks first on health among 41 towns, with an A; Ester and Seward follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Health grade: seven CDC PLACES estimates for adults (general, physical and mental health, obesity, diabetes, smoking, exercise). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a health grade (41 in Alaska). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alaska page.
Go deeper
All Alaska rankings →More Alaska lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live41 towns · #1 PetersburgBest small towns33 towns · #1 PetersburgMost affordable towns41 towns · #1 KotzebueSafest towns18 towns · #1 UnalaskaTowns with the best schools41 towns · #1 PetersburgBest towns for jobs & income41 towns · #1 Steele CreekMost walkable towns41 towns · #1 SitkaTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikBest towns for the outdoors41 towns · #1 AnchorageMost historic towns41 towns · #1 KetchikanTowns with the most civic life17 towns · #1 SewardTowns with the least snow35 towns · #1 KetchikanDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns35 towns · #1 ValdezDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters41 towns · #1 SitkaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers41 towns · #1 GoldstreamDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes41 towns · #1 GatewayDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes39 towns · #1 KotzebueDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns19 towns · #1 WasillaDescribed, no letters
Other states