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Selawik, Alaska 2024Photo: Annie Carlson/Western Arctic National Parklands · CC BY 2.0
–Not graded
Health in Selawik · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Selawik residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Selawik, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Selawik. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Selawik

Dental care lags in Selawik

36.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.7% across Alaska. Among those 65 and older, 34.9% have lost all their teeth (Alaska 13.5%). Checkups ↓

Smoking is more common in Selawik

1 in 3 adults smoke cigarettes (34.9%), about twice the Alaska rate. Habits ↓

The nearest ER is 57 miles from Selawik

The closest emergency room is Maniilaq Health Center in Kotzebue, 57.1 miles away in a straight line. And 25.1% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9% across Alaska. For everyday care, Maniilaq Association is closer (0.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓

More Selawik adults live with a disability

46.4% of adults live with a disability, vs 29.6% across Alaska. The biggest difference is vision loss: 11.6% vs 4.7%. Disability ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Alaska figure falls outside Selawik’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Selawik adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.

65%Yearly checkupAK 69%
36%Dentist visitAK 60%
69%Cholesterol checkAK 80%
46%Colon screeningAK 59%
52%MammogramAK 66%
64%Taking BP medsAK 68%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Selawik 16.3% · Alaska 1 in 10 (10%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska

Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.

Get no exercise 34.1%AK 21.7%
Sleep under 7 hours 44.7%AK 35.1%
Binge drink 17%AK 17.6%
Smoke cigarettes 34.9%AK 16%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Selawik, betterSelawik, worseAbout the sameAlaska
Where Selawik gets moving

0.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Selawik

1 community health center in Selawik, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERManiilaq Health CenterKotzebue · 57.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careManiilaq AssociationNoorvik · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Maniilaq Association
5 sites · nearest in Noorvik
Sliding-scale feesIn Selawik
Directions to nearest
57.1 mi
Maniilaq Health Center
Kotzebue · not rated
ERRural critical access
119.5 mi
Norton Sound Health
2 sites · nearest in Koyuk
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careSelawik is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careSelawik is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Selawik itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Selawik; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

46.4%

of Selawik adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.6%
Thinking or memory24.4%
Hearing11.5%
Errands alone15.6%
Vision11.6%
Dressing or bathing6.5%
Alaska
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Selawik adults…

Selawik runs below AK on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Selawik adults have COPD
Alaska: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 8.6–11.8%
Better than AKWorseAbout the sameAlaska
Mind & connection

How Selawik adults are doing

On 3 of 4 measures, Selawik runs above Alaska.

2 in 5Selawik adults feel lonely
40.4% · AK 33.3% · Worse than AK
1 in 3Selawik adults lack social or emotional support
35.5% · AK 25.4% · Worse than AK
1 in 5Selawik adults have been diagnosed with depression
22% · AK 20.7% · About the same as AK
1 in 4Selawik adults are in frequent mental distress
23.5% · AK 16.1% · Worse than AK
The one neighbors can help with

2 in 5 Selawik adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

2 in 5
Selawik adults worry about having enough food
42.5% · AK 14.3%
Worse than AK
1 in 3
Selawik adults worry about keeping their housing
31% · AK 12.3%
Worse than AK
1 in 4
Selawik adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
22.8% · AK 8.2%
Worse than AK
1 in 4
Selawik adults lack reliable transportation
25.1% · AK 9%
Worse than AK

33.9% of Selawik adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.

Around town

Selawik and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Questions about health in Selawik

Why doesn’t Selawik have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Selawik.

Where can I get low-cost care near Selawik?

1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Sally Harvey Memorial Clinic in Noorvik, 0.3 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Selawik.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alaska figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.